This red silk wedding kimono is called an uchikake. The kimono is decorated with a crane and flower design. Because cranes have long life spans, they have come to symbolize long life and good fortune, making them an ideal symbol for a marriage. This kimono was worn by the donor's sister-in-law in her wedding ceremony (ca. 1990); it is likely that the bride bought the kimono used.
The kimono is a Japanese traditional garment. Kimono, literally meaning a "thing to wear," are made of flat panels of cloth into T-shaped, straight-lined robes with long, wide sleeves. Kimono are wrapped around the body and secured by a sash called an obi, which is tied at the back. Kimono are generally worn with traditional footwear (especially zori or geta) and split-toe socks (tabi). There are many types of kimono for different occasions. One common type, traditionally worn by unmarried women, is the furisode, distinctive for its nearly floor-length sleeves. Today, kimono are usually worn on special occasions (such as weddings or tea ceremonies) or by a small proportion of older men and women on a daily basis. Kimono fabrics, typically silk, are frequently hand made and hand decorated, though modern kimono are available in less expensive, machine-made fabrics.
