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

This kimono, in black plain-weave habutae silk fabric, was worn by the influential historical figure and samurai Sakamoto Ryōma (1835-1867). For generations, it had belonged to the Iguchi family, owners of Omiya (a soy-sauce shop and inn) in Kyoto, where Ryōma often stayed, and where he was assassinated. The kimono, bearing the Sakamoto family crest, was donated to the museum by the Iguchi family in 1940. As kimono were custom tailored to fit their wearers, we can get a sense of Ryōma's physical proportions from this garment.