National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

This is a nuihaku (a kimono where a combination of embroidery and gold/silver leaf is applied) with patterns embroidered close together in the shoulder and bottom areas partitioned off in the shape of suhama (a sandbar). Although most of it has come off, the ground where embroidery is applied used to be painted in gold and silver. Since this nuihaku is small in size and has long sleeves, it seems to be a Noh costume for a child performer.
Nuihaku means a Noh costume with embroidery and surihaku (a technique to impress gold/silver leaf paste on a design) for a female role. While a nuihaku played a low-profile role in Noh performances from the Edo period onward as it was used as a loincloth, it used to be a gorgeous outer garment up to the Azuchi Momoyama period. Since this nuihaku was possessed by the Konparu troupe, a Noh troupe patronized by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, this might have been used in a Noh performance performed in front of Hideyoshi.