Ikemigusa
池見草
The Story of the Ikemigusa Pattern
This piece brings the work of Kyoto town painter Fukaya Fuyuki into the world of Kyoto Yuzen dyeing at Pagong. The term Ikemigusa is another name for the lotus flower, and in this design, lotus blossoms are arranged in a bold and striking composition.
The lotus is believed to have been introduced to Japan from the Korean peninsula along with Buddhism during the Asuka period. Its remarkable nature—taking root in muddy water yet blooming in pristine beauty—has long symbolized purity untouched by the impurities of the world, and it has been cherished since ancient times.
In addition, because the lotus grows from the mud and produces abundant seeds after flowering, it is also associated with prosperity and the flourishing of life.
Peeking out from behind the lotus is a frog. In Japanese, the word kaeru (frog) is associated with several auspicious meanings because it sounds like words such as “to return,” “to come back,” “to change,” and “to be reborn.” This has given rise to familiar expressions like “money returning,” “safe return,” and “renewal,” making the frog a widely recognized symbol of good fortune.
Frogs, which transform from tadpoles into adults, are also seen as symbols of regeneration and rebirth. Because they emerge in abundance after rainfall, they are further associated with fertility and the vitality of life. As such, the frog is considered an auspicious motif connected to many forms of good fortune.
Beside the lotus, a dragonfly can also be seen. The ancient chronicle Nihon Shoki records that Japan was once called “Akitsukuni,” meaning “the land of dragonflies,” reflecting how familiar these insects have been to the Japanese people since ancient times.
In later periods, dragonflies came to be used as seasonal motifs, especially in summer garments, evoking cool waterside scenes. In the Ikemigusa pattern, the combination of lotus, frog, and dragonfly creates a tranquil, ink-painting-like landscape, filled with a sense of quiet beauty and a slightly dreamlike atmosphere.