“Symbols of Japan” doesn’t say why Chinese artists (and later Japanese artists) paired the squirrel with the grape, just that they did. I’m sure there’s a good story there somewhere, but maybe it was just because they’re so darn cute together?

Crescent moon and Big Dipper 北斗星 crest

I like this camellia (椿) pattern

A watch with a bamboo and sparrow pattern (which suggests loyalty): a little more metallic than my usual posts, but lovely

Click through for auspicious motifs often found on furisode (well, popular motifs in general, but the site is for furisode ^^;;) - this is the “Four Gentlemen.” Clockwise from the top left: plum, bamboo, orchid, chrysanthemum