This obi is a remake of vintage silk fabric and ichimatsu (checkers) cotton fabric, reversible.

Width: 6 inches

Length:  12.5 feet

市松 Ichimatsu can refer to either a checkerboard pattern or a plaid.

Ichimatsu has used since ancient times as a design motif in Japan. In the Heian period, a form of it known as ishidatami-mon　(石畳文, paving stone motif) was particularly popular.  Ishidatami-mon is a form of small scale ichimatsu composed of alternating groupings of four smaller squares in two colors. Ichimatsu Sanogawa, an Osakan actor, is credited with bringing ichimatsu into fashion among the urban middle class in 1741.   Ichimatsu remains popular in the theatre and can be found rendered with metallic threads on odori obi.