The wish contained in the checkered pattern: Tanjiro's haori speaks of "unbroken feelings"
🟩The wish contained in the checkered pattern - Tanjiro's haori speaks of "unbroken feelings"
■ Introduction: Stories told by patterns
The haori worn by Tanjiro Kamado, the protagonist of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba," features a green and black checkered pattern that is not just a design. It is a traditional Japanese pattern known as "ichimatsumoyo." The orderly repetition of squares is not only visually beautiful, but also contains deep meaning and wishes.
Patterns can sometimes speak louder than words. The designs found on textiles, tableware, architecture, and clothing have conveyed people's feelings throughout the ages. In this article, we will explore the origin and meaning of the checkered pattern and unravel how the character Tanjiro resonates with it.
■ What is a checkered pattern?
A checkerboard pattern is a grid of squares arranged vertically and horizontally. This pattern, made up of two contrasting colors such as black and white or green and black, creates a visual sense of rhythm and stability.
This pattern first became widely known in the mid-Edo period when the kabuki actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu used it on his stage costumes. It came to be called the "ichimatsu pattern" after his name, and has since been widely used on kimonos, obi sashes, architectural decorations, and more.
The greatest feature of the checkered pattern is that it appears to go on forever. Because the pattern continues without interruption, it has come to represent meanings such as prosperity, development, and permanence, and has become popular as an auspicious motif.
"Just as the pattern continues uninterrupted, so too will our feelings continue uninterrupted" - this is the wish entrusted to the checkered pattern.
■ The resonance between Tanjiro's story and the checkered pattern
Tanjiro's story is a symbol of "never giving up on feelings." His family was killed by demons, and his only surviving sister, Nezuko, was also turned into a demon. He faced a cruel fate. But he refused to give in to despair and chose the path of a swordsman who slays demons in order to turn his sister back into a human.
His principle of action is not revenge, but "protection." He has a deep love for his family, trust in his comrades, and compassion even for his enemies, the demons. His consistent attitude overlaps with the "harmony," "stability," and "continuity" that the checkered pattern symbolizes.
Furthermore, Tanjiro's strength is not simply physical strength. It is his unyielding spirit, his kindness and consideration for others, and his determination to stick to his beliefs. His personality, woven together by these elements, shines through the story in a neat, powerful way, like a checkerboard pattern.
■ Color meaning: contrast between green and black
The colors used in Tanjiro's haori - green and black - also have a deeper meaning.
Green is the color that symbolizes nature, rebirth, and growth. For Tanjiro, who grew up in the mountains and lived in harmony with nature as a charcoal burner, green is his origin and also a symbol of kindness and vitality.
Meanwhile, black represents strength, resolve, and the light within the shadows. This color represents the pain and sadness Tanjiro carries as he throws himself into the battle against demons, as well as his strong will to overcome them.
The contrast between these two colors visually expresses the character Tanjiro's "combination of kindness and strength."
■ WABISUKE's perspective: The philosophy behind patterns
At WABISUKE, we see traditional patterns not simply as decoration, but as symbols of a way of life. The checkered patterns contain universal themes that resonate with us in the modern age: a desire for continuity, harmony and stability, and hopes for the future.
For the younger generation in particular, tradition can sometimes seem like something "old" and distant. However, people like Tanjiro, who embody new values while wearing traditional patterns, teach us that "resonance between tradition and modernity" is possible.
At WABISUKE, we hope to encourage the younger generation to "inherit aesthetic sensibilities" by carefully conveying the background and meaning of these patterns. Learning about patterns connects the past and the future. There is a quiet will to inherit and nurture culture.
■ Conclusion: A story connected by patterns
The checkered pattern on Tanjiro's haori is his story itself. Just like the never-ending pattern, his feelings are also passed down without interruption.
The patterns speak: inarticulate wishes, timeless feelings, and the aesthetics of life.
At WABISUKE, we will continue to listen to the "voice of the patterns" and weave stories that connect tradition and modernity.