The four seasons circulate Like a circle which has no beginning and no end Reminding us of the flow of eternity
Under the pure white blanket The red fruits glow even more in the severe cold
This design is from one of the Taste of Japanese Embroidery classes used to introduce students to Japanese Embroidery. Students without any experience can stitch it within four hours on a single day. Once the basic motif is completed, the student can stitch more of the design, if they wish to do so.
Pine, crane, and turtle (expressed as kikko, the hexagon pattern taken from turtle shells) are symbols of longevity in Japan. This is why these motifs can be often seen at celebrations such as weddings, or birthdays for elders. Examples of this can be seen on formal wedding kimonos, and the uchikake, the decorative kimono that is worn over the actual kimono, where beautiful images of those motifs are often embroidered.
In Japan, there is a custom to “listen to insects. It makes us feel cool by listening to the insects singing while awaiting the arrival of the autumn season.
People continue to make traditional insect baskets using bamboo in traditional style. Children catching insects and storing them in a cage is a typical summer scene in Japan.