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No. 13 Huang Xian (Ko Kyo) by Chikanobu Toyohara (1890) This wonderful print is the 13th from the series Twenty-four Tales of Filial Piety by Toyohara Chikanobu, where legendary stories of filial service would be portrayed. Shown in the top inset of...

Moga Girl by Kasen Ohira (ca.1930) The above print depicts a beauty dressed in the latest fashion style of the period. In the 1920s and 1930s such fashionable women were called ‘moga’ (abbreviation of 'modern girl'). This was Japan's equivalent...

Two Maiko by Gekko Ogata (1880) Tying the obi skillfully is an important aspect of kitsuke, the art of wearing a kimono. There are many different styles of obi belts, which can be tied in many different ways, depending on occasion,...

April by Chikanobu Toyohara (1890)  A young beauty glances behind her shoulder - perhaps she has crossed paths with a handsome man? Wearing a kimono made of intricate patterns, she is portrayed elegantly holding up her umbrella. The light pink kimono...

Geisha with Musical Instrument by Eisen Keisai (c. 1820-1830)  Primarily musicians and entertainers, geisha can be identified by their simpler kimono, with obi belts tied at the back. In this print by Eisen Keisai (1790-1848) a geisha carries a musical instrument...

Courtesan Nagao with Attendants by Sencho (c. 1840) Courtesans (oiran), in defiance of laws prohibiting sex workers from wearing extravagant fashions, donned intentionally impractical outfits as visual representations of their influence. The obi belt of an oiran was always tied at the...