The 45 traditional kimono designs, as listed by Katsumi Yumioka in the beautiful Summer Kimonos and the Colors of Japan:
Ajisai 紫陽花: The hydrangea, considered by samurai to represent glory.
Akikusa 秋草: Autumn flowers, which are 7.
Asagao 朝顔: The morning glory, loved for its flamboyant blossoming that is as sudden as it is brief.
Ashi 葦: The reed, often depicted in waterfront paintings.
Azami 薊: The thistle, which signals the coming of summer.
Bara 薔薇: The (Chinese) rose, seen as a lucky flower promising prosperity.
Bashou 芭蕉 The plantain tree, long admired for its rarity and the sound of rain falling on its leaves.
Budou 葡萄: Grapes, a symbol of fertility and fecundity.
Chidori 千鳥: The plover, evoking a medieval poem.
Fune 舟: A boat, representing forward movement despite obstacles.
Fuyou 芙蓉: The confederate rose, appreciated for the gracefulness of its ephemereal flower.
Hanaguruma 花車: A flower cart, considered to be inhabited by a god’s spirit.
Himawari 向日葵: The sunflower, of striking appearance.
Ho-odeki ほおでき: The Japanese lantern plant, which has a long history as a toy, as children make whistles out of it fruits.
Hotaru 蛍: Fireflies, an important element of many legends and stories.
Kaede 楓: The maple leaf, associated with powers of recovery and much contemplated during Momiji, the time of year when the leaves turn red.
Kai 貝: Seashells, which due to their hard shell were associated with protection and often depicted on armor.
Kaichuuzu 海中図: The sea, since the 18th century an inspiration for realistic yet magical udnerwater worlds.
Kanran 甘藍: The ornamental kale, essential for the New Year’s holidays as there are no flowers that time of year to provide color.
Kaya 茅: Miscanthus, used for roofing.
Keitou 鶏頭: The celosia, seen as a symbol of social status.
Kingyo 金魚: The goldfish, one of the eight lucky signs of Buddhism.
Koi 鯉: The carp, a symbol of advancement, as the fish are said to jump rapids.
Kujaku 孔雀: The peacock, of divine beauty but furious temperament.
Maru 丸: Circles, which have a wide variety of meanings.
Mizudori 水鳥: Waterfowl, long-time favorite subjects for artists.
Nami 浪 : A wave, symbol of Nature’s vitality.
Nami no maru 波の丸: Wave circles, representing the ever-changing shape of the waves.
Natsukusabana 夏草花 Summer flowers.
Ougi 扇: The folding fan, regarded as auspicious and aesthetic.
Ryu-usui 流水: Flowing water, reflecting the fact that all things in life are in a state of flux.
Sakana 魚: Fish, inspired from folk tales of undersea princesses and castles.
Seigaiha 青海波: A wave pattern symbolizing eternal peace and happiness.
Susuki 薄: Japanese pampas grass, whose feathery plumes were believed to be inhabited by the spirit of a god.
Tessen 鉄線: The clematis, with its elegant foreign appearance.
Tokusa 木賊: The scouring rush, an ornamental garden plant.
Tonbo 蜻蛉: The dragonfly, a symbol of victory often depicted on armor as it flies forward only.
Tsubame 燕: The swallow, an auspicious bird for a couple, often depicted in betrothal gifts.
Tsuyushiba 露芝: Dew and grass, depicting the day of white dew, Hakuro, which is on or near September 8.
Uchiwa 団扇: The round fan, believed to be inhabited by a god’s spirit.
Usagi 兎: The rabbit, a holy animal in China sinc ethe Han period.
Uzumaki 渦巻: Swirls, inspired by the arrival of the Secession style in Japan.
Yatsuhashi 八橋: The eight-plank bridge, associated with an episode of The Tales of Ise, a poetry anthology of the Heian period.
Youbana 洋花: Flowers native to the West, popular since the 1900 Paris exposition.
Yuri 百合: The lily, symbolizing prayers for the prosperity of one’s descendants.
