This listing is for a katamigawari style kimono, typically denoting a performer (i.e. musician or dancer) of some kind. It is from the collection of Toshiko Toland.  See below for more on the life of this accomplished woman (though with no mention of her being a performer.)  

Like all katamigawari, this kimono features a different fabric on each half, but unlike most dance kimono, this is a high-quality silk (rather than cotton or synthetic) with a stenciled (rather than printed) design. 

One half is a cream silk with colorful florals and pine boughs. It looks like a summer morning in the garden to us. The other half is a high-contrast black with a dense design of thatched roof huts, pine, maple leaves, bamboo, florals, and more.  Lots of gold leaf or gold paint as well.

Light weight silk with no lining. There are a couple of small blemishes on the cream side, see last photos.

Toshiko Toland was a journalist, editor, translator and wife of John Toland, author of "The Rising Sun", the Pulitzer Prize General Non-Fiction winner in 1971. She was instrumental in the writing of this book, but it was only one of her many accomplishments.  She passed away in December 2024 and her family consigned her kimono and obi collection to us in the hopes that the pieces will find new homes and be lovingly worn or displayed. Click here to learn more about Toshiko-san.

See the video below to learn about how to dress in kimono. To add one of our simple cotton sashes for $15, click the option above.

If you're going to display this kimono and want to add a sturdy but simple hanging rod, click that option below. (The rod must be shipped separately.)