Zuiun is a natural phenomenon that clouds are colored by the sun when they pass nearby. Ancient people think that as an omen before a good thing occurs. In Japan, we use this pattern for Kimono and Obi as a fortunate pattern. A single peak mountain, Mt. Yotei is covered by clouds very often. Drew that mountain’s character using Zuiun.
Seigaiha (blue ocean waves) pattern has been popular for various items, including kimono, as a traditional Japanese design. It is based on a wish that fortunes will keep on coming just like ocean waves that repeatedly come up. In addition, the shape of a wave is wider at the bottom, which is considered as a good pattern that means prosperity, happiness, beauty and fortunes. This pattern is used not only for ocean waves but all types of water images. In this item, we express Ezo Fuji that is crowning above an ocean of clouds. The shape of Ezo Fuji is based on Fuji drawn by Katsushika Hokusai in his Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.
This is one of Japanese traditional patterns, named after hemp leaves because of its shape. Hemp is strong and hard to wither. They stretch quickly toward the sky. People believe that this pattern itself has a charm to chase evil things away. That is why it was often used as clothes for new born babies, wishing for healthy growth of the baby. Of course, it is used for kimono and many other items, too. In this item, we used hexagons to express snow and came up with Ezo Fuji in snowy scenery.
Ezo Ookami (Wolf) used to live in Hokkaido. Ainu people were coexistent with them and worshipped as one of gods. The wolves existed with nature strongly and beautifully.
Drew a southwest face of Mt. Nisekoannupuri. There are coniferous trees on low altitude and broad‐leaved trees on a wide range of the mountain. Most of winter days are cloudy. All of letters are drawn by designer's hand.
Lieutenant Colonel Lerch is an important figure in Japanese skiing history, as he brought ski techniques to Japan. He visited this place in 1912, and skied Yoteizan and Kutchan mountains. We know that he only used one wooden stick to support himself back then.
There are several styles of writing. Yoteizan, which is written horizontally in grey, uses Gyoshotai (cursive writing). Yoteizan, which is written vertically in purple, uses Reishotai, a very historical way of handwriting. Yamanoko, which is written on fox patterns as a signature, is purposefully expressed with playful use of Chinese characters. All these are handwritten by the designer himself.
