"Ichimatsu Pattern"
~A pattern of two colors of squares neatly arranged alternately~
Ippei Shigeyama, a Kyogen actor, is an unparalleled lover of the Ichimatsu pattern, to the point of saying, "There's not a day I don't wear Ichimatsu."
He spoke about this on NHK BS's "Bi no Tsubo" (The Urn of Beauty) broadcast on July 23, 2021.
(Please note that in some regions, it may have been broadcast on a different date.)
His passion for it spans over 20 years, with his socks and undershorts featuring the Ichimatsu pattern every day.
He reportedly owns over 200 items.
The Ichimatsu pattern has a long history, appearing on Jomon pottery and Haniwa figures from the Kofun period.
It is said that ancient people believed they were connected to the universe and nature, and expressed this infinite expansion in a grid-like design.
During the Edo period, the name of this pattern became widely known.
It was named after the Kabuki actor, Sanogawa Ichimatsu.
The checkered pattern of two alternating squares that he wore during his stage performances eventually came to be called the "Ichimatsu pattern" after him.
Before that,
it was generally known as "Ishidatami" (stone pavement pattern).
At our company, we use the Ichimatsu pattern for men's and women's obi belts, and even for small accessories.
We have the Ichimatsu pattern woven into tatami borders.
In fact, the beloved business card holder that Ippei Shigeyama introduced on TV
also appeared to be made of tatami border material.
By the way,
overseas, it is called "check" or "checker."
Although it is thought of as a Japanese pattern, it is actually a pattern loved all over the world.
That is the "Ichimatsu pattern."
Doesn't it make patterns even more interesting when you think about being connected to the world through them?
