Motifs on Japanese kimono can be highly stylised and sometimes it may be hard to tell which pattern, flower or animal is shown. Some of the most popular motifs are shown below to help you identify which are on your kimono.
Flowers and plants
kiku - chrysanthemum
can be daisy-shaped or rounded and fluffy, three-lobed frilly leaf
kikusui - chrysanthemums on flowing water
ran-kiku
spider chrysanthemum
manju-giku
stylised, rounded chrysanthemum
kiri - paulownia
three leaves pointing downwards with spikes of small flowers
fuji - wisteria
long trailing stems of petals
sakura - cherry blossom
5 petals with dented edges, small stalks
sakura fubuki - shower of cherry blossom
yaezukura
multi-layered frilly cherry blossom
momo - peach blossom
rounded or fluffy petals, multilayered, grows straight from the branch, usually pale pink
ume - plum blossom
round petals and grows straight from the branch, can be white, pink or red
eda-ume - plum on the branch
nejiume - twisted plum blossom
as plum, but a spiralling shape
matsu - pine
realistic needle branches or full trees
kasamatsu - dense pine branch, 'mushroom' shaped
matsuba - pine needles
take - bamboo stems
sasa - bamboo leaves
yukimochizasa - snow covered bamboo
shou-chiku-bai
pine, bamboo and plum together
common New Year motif
momiji/kaede - maple
spiky leaves, usually shown with 7 lobes
karabana/karahana - imaginary Chinese flower
either vine-like (combined with karakusa) or a flat rosette shape
aoi (futaba-aoi) - hollyhock
spade-shaped leaves on long stems
tachibana - mandarin orange
heart shaped, with 5 leaves
hagi - bush clover
sprays of oval leaves
ayame/shobu - iris
long spiked leaves from base of flower, tongue shaped petals
asagao - morning glory
trumpet shaped flowers with white lines radiating from centre; 3-lobed leaves
cattleya - orchid
stamens on central tubular tongue-shaped petal, often differently coloured. Can also be phalaenopsis orchids with two semicircular petals on a single bare stem
ran - orchid
orchid with long, narrow spike shaped petals
botan - peony
many petals which end in three curves. Centre petals often stand up clustered round the centre of the flower while larger petals lie flat
ajisai - hydrangea
large cluster of 4-petalled blooms on one flowerhead
kikyo - bellflower
5 spiky petals with star shaped white centres. Small narrow oval leaves pointing upwards on long stems
sasa-rindou - bamboo gentian
gentian with bamboo style leaves in a cluster under the flower head and on a long stem
tsubaki - camellia
chunky central stamen like a poppy, rounded puffy petals, pointed oval leaves cluster under the base of the flower
hibiscus
similar to camellia but central stamen has seeds only at the end, leaves are scalloped rather than smooth-edged
tsutsuji - azalea
similar to camellia but with only one layer of petals, sometimes well spaced out, sometimes pointed at the tips
bara - rose
overlapping petals with pointed oval leaves, often shown with tightly furled buds
yuri - lily
stamens come from centre, spike like stem, shorter spiky leaves grow all up the stem
suzuran - lily of the valley
stems of tiny bell shaped flowers, long leaves with deep veins
basho - banana leaf
large, frilled long leaves
omoto - rohdea
large, smooth edged leaves in a cluster. Often shown with berries in the centre
nadeshiko - dianthus/pinks
5-lobed petals with 'pinked' edges, short spiky thin leaves on one stem
kaki - persimmon
small, round fruit on spiky branches
icho - ginkgo
umbrella shaped leaves on short stems
tsuta - ivy
vine with curved, 3-lobed leaves
nandina
shrub with hanging clusters of fruit on long stems, smooth pointed leaves
budou - grape
similar fruit to nandina but a twisting vine with three-lobed leaves
katabami - wood sorrel/shamrock
3 heart shaped leaves
yanagi - willow
very long, narrow, trailing leaves
suisen - narcissus/daffodil
tubular central petal with frilly edges, long spike leaves from base of plant
zakuro - pomegranate
onion shaped fruit with 'tuft' shape tip on sprawling branches
azami - thistle
spiky leaves, fluffy wedge shaped flower which points upwards
tulip
cup shaped flowers, often with frilly petals, on long thick stems. Long smooth leaves from base of stem
sunflower
very large flower seed centres with many small petals in a ring around the edge
hachisu - lotus
large flat leaf pads whcih can be frilly around the edge, flowers on long stems have many pointed petals pointing upwards, shed leaves curl upwards at the edges, roots are circular with holes in
water lily
similar to lotus, but the flower rest on the water rather than on a long stem; also the leaves are flatter and rounder without frilly edges
inaho - rice ears
long narrow grasses with feathery rice grain clusters
susuki - silver grass/pampas grass
fluffy multi-stranded heads on long skinny grass
shiba - grass
either arc shaped or realistic
dots on top of the grass signify dewdrops (tsuyushiba)
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