Propaganda Kimono

Japanese clothing designers working around 1900 to 1950 explored themes of modernity. Many designers were using Art Deco and Cubist styles to decorate kimonos with cityscapes, industry, and new technologies in the early 1900s. Beginning in the 1920s, those designs began to reflect the increasingly nationalistic and militaristic Japanese government, which came to a head during World War II. This kimono reflects that historic period.

The most prominent motif on this kimono is Mt Fuji, a common image used in Japanese propaganda due to its cultural significance. Surrounding the mountain are fighter jets and balloon bombs.