This is a vintage Japanese boy's formal kimono, called a miyamairi. These ceremonial kimono typically have dark bands at the top and hem, with a dramatic design in the center, light-colored section, along with up to five family crests. This style of kimono makes a beautiful display and though they are wearable, they are not play clothes and are not likely to survive the play life of an active child! See below for more about how these are worn.
This kimono features a single hawk perched on - but preparing to pounce from - a finely decorated stand. In the Edo Period, falconry with hawks was very popular among the higher classes. This hawk was meticulously drawn, dyed and embroidered; it is art. Gold leaf was applied by brush on every feather and fine embroidery embellishes the eye and beak.
Filling out the scene is a series of large pine boughs and orange tassels but look closely to see that gold leaf flecks create little clouds of shimmer around the imagery on the back and on the front.
There are five family crests, indicating that this is the highest level of formality and would be worn to an event where the child represents the family. The crest is mokko (melon).
To be expected with vintage kimono with light-colored backgrounds, there is some mottling on the back side of the kimono and a discoloration on the front shoulder, see last photos.
Miyamairi have two main purposes. First, it is a ceremonial garment draped over an infant boy for his first visit to the shrine with his parents and grandparents to thank the gods for safe delivery of the child and pray for blessings. The kimono is wrapped around the baby and the long silk bands are tied behind the mom or grandmother who holds the baby during the ceremony. Secondly, miyamairi are worn for the Shichi-Go-San festival, when the boy is five years old and goes again to the shrine to pray for his and his family's good fortune. (See video below on the Shichi-Go-San Festival day for one young family in Japan.).
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