Skip to main content

Obi jime

Japanese

Artwork Details

Obi jime
20th century
Japanese
fabric
1/2 in x 59 in (1.27 cm x 149.86 cm)
Gift of Howard and Patricia Yamaguchi
2013/2.450

Description

Subject Matter:

This is a Kumihimo Obi jime.

Obi jime are cords tied on the outside of the obi. Since they are visible, they come in a variety of colors and styles. Obi jime comes in roughly 2  types: One is called “Maru Guke” for formal attire which contains cotton inside covered by cloth.  Another is a braid called “Kumihimo” for casual to formal attire.  “Kumihimo” is the name of a type of Japanese braiding, meaning a gathering of thread, mostly in a flat form.  This form employs different braiding blocks such as “Kakudai”(square block), “Marudai”(round block) and “Takadai” (high block), creating varieties of Kumihimo Obi jime.

Physical Description:

Purple, off-white, brown and green in a 1/2 circle pattern, fringe of the same colors on both ends.

Usage Rights:

If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.