Brilliant obi with temari (ball) pattern

I would probably read this book about Japanese motifs about twice as fast if I couldn’t access google image search

Imagine, if you can, weaving this on little ridges cut into your fingernails…

and what a cute obi with morning glories on it!

And a monkey-circle obi for good measure

How cute is this obi? Zodiac animals and auspicious kanji

A bat obi

OK, there is one thing that could have improved the previous obi, and you’ll see it right here on this one

Oh wow, this sea creature obi, it’s like it couldn’t possibly be any more awesome

Really like the design on that obi on the right

Dramatic dragonfly-patterned obi. The book I’m reading now said that when the military elite came to power in the Momoyama period, their taste in patterns differed from that of the aristocrats; they liked militaristic patterns like the arrow feather and the dragonfly. That’s because the dragonfly, which flies in a straight path directly towards its destination, is believed to be a symbol of strength and victory.

An obi decorated by images of kanzashi (hairpins). How very meta

1930s peacock obi

Alternating patterns and space make a cool stripey effect