Kingfisher and Irises
Utagawa Hiroshige Japanese
Not on view
As part of the Boys’ Day celebration, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar year, irises (ayame) were attached to the eaves of a family’s house. The anonymous poet here suggests that the fragrance is transferred to the garments of those standing below:
雨垂に 袖もあやめに 匂ひけり
Amadare ni
sode mo ayame ni
nioi keri
Rain dripping from the eaves
drenches our kimono sleeves
with the fragrance of irises.
—Trans. John T. Carpenter
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