This fine silk juban, an underkimono, showcases rare motifs of the 'Suzume Odori' (Sparrow Dance), painted on silk. It shows signs of silk splitting on either side of the collar. Measuring 49 inches (124 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and standing at 50 inches (127 cm) in height.

The Sparrow Dance has its origins dating back about four hundred years ago, around 1603, during a celebration for the construction of Sendai Castle. It was initially an improvised dance performed by inebriated stonemasons from Osaka in the presence of the lord Date Masamune. The dance's energetic movements and hopping steps, resembling sparrows pecking for food, led to its name "Sparrow Dance." This name is associated with the family crest of Date, which includes bamboo and sparrow motifs.

This particular juban is a rare find as it's the only extant 19th-century Sparrow Dance kimono discovered thus far. It was likely created and worn in the Sendai area of northern Japan, the birthplace of the Sparrow Dance tradition.