2 Kihachijo:
The Silk Fabric that Supported the Island
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Kihachijo in Ukiyo-e
Kihachijo, with its impressive vibrant yellow, is depicted in ukiyo-e as costumes for Kabuki and Joruri in the Edo period. This ukiyo-e is by the first Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864) and depicts Okoma, the heroine of the Joruri and Kabuki play "Koi Musume Mukashi Hachijo (The Love-Inspired Murder)," which was performed in the late Edo period and became very popular. The Kihachijo worn by Okoma became a huge trend among young girls along with the play's popularity.
The Origin of Kihachijo
The name "Kihachijo" is thought to have been a name used in the Edo area from the late Edo period because the color yellow looked so striking. On Hachijojima, it was called "Tango" until after the World War II, but with the increase in tourists from 1955 to 1964, the name used outside the island came into use.