Paper with traces of carbon

This rare kamiko kimono belongs to an exceedingly fragile class of Japanese garments made not from woven fibers but from washi paper, stitched and glued into wearable form. Constructed from sheets of undyed hand-worked paper that have been crumpled, layered, and reinforced, it dates to the first third of the twentieth century and was worn during Omizutori, the ancient fire-and-water ritual held annually at Tōdai‑ji. During this dramatic nighttime ceremony, whose origins are said to reach back to 752, monks carry massive flaming torches along an elevated hall, showering sparks believed to confer spiritual protection.

The kimono bears visible traces of this history: soot, carbon marks, wear, and careful patching testify to repeated ritual use. The garment embodies Omizutori’s elemental relationship between fire, water, and paper, while its white surface evokes Shinto associations of ritual purity. More than utilitarian clothing, it stands as a testament to Japanese material intelligence, where resourcefulness, impermanence, and tactile beauty converge.