"The mansion by the coast"

Black trailing kimono crafted in matte-finish crepe. Kimono sleeves. The kimono is lined in 100% cotton printed fabric featuring chrysanthemum motifs in crimson, gold, white, and green. Black underdress in hand-finished cotton gauze.

THE MANSION BY THE COAST

"There was once a prince named Koretaka who owned a palace in Minase, beyond Miyazaki, where he would travel each year during the peak of cherry blossom season. On these visits, the Prince showed little interest in hunting, choosing instead to drink sake and compose poetry. One day, while out on a hunt, they came upon cherry trees of exceptional beauty near a mansion by the Katano coast. They dismounted, sat beneath the blossoms, and adorned their hair with the branches. As they began composing poems, one of them recited:

With what peace spring might arrive in our hearts—
if cherry blossoms did not exist.

Another said:

If we so cherish cherry blossoms,
it is because they wither soon—
is there aught in this world that lasts forever?

At dusk, on their way back to the mansion at Minase, they encountered other members of the Prince’s retinue. In search of a place to sit and drink, they came upon a spot called Amanogawa (“River of Heaven”). As they poured the Prince a cup of sake, he asked that someone compose a poem on the theme: “Arriving at Amanogawa, after hunting in Katano.” He recited:

Since our hunt has brought us
to the River of Heaven,
perhaps the Weaver Maiden
might host us tonight.

Ki no Aritsune replied:

I doubt that she—
who meets her beloved
but one night a year—
would receive another guest.

Back at the mansion, they spent the night drinking and sharing tales. As the Prince, now quite inebriated, was about to retire, someone recited:

Why does the moon retreat
so soon, before I’ve had my fill?
Do the mountains flee from her,
afraid to hide her light?

On behalf of the Prince, Ki no Aritsune answered:

If only plains
topped the mountains instead of peaks—
then would the moon find no place to hide."