Crane Dance Tee

鶴 (tsuru): "the crane."

Open a box of hanafuda and January is pine, its best card a red-crowned crane standing under a red sun. The flower cards come forty-eight to a deck, four for each month, every month marked by a plant. The crane is one of the five brights, the strongest cards of all, and in koi-koi, the two-player game played across Japan, holding all five is the top hand there is. Pine and crane together, matsu ni tsuru, are a classic wish for long life.

Two red-crowned cranes stand by a pine branch and three red peonies on a cream square across the back, one with its wings flung open. Above them sits 吉祥 (kisshō), "a good omen," and below them 鶴 (tsuru), "crane." A small card on the chest repeats both words with a single crane.

Pine and crane wish for a long life, so it's a good gift for a big birthday, a wedding or a koi-koi player. The cream and red stay gentle on the washed pale gray, quieter than most of the dragons. For something with fangs instead of feathers, try the Japanese graphic tees.

• Fabric: 100% combed cotton, 230gsm, pre-shrunk and soft-washed
• Print: direct-to-garment (DTG)
• Color: washed pale gray
• Fit: unisex, regular; size up for a boxier, oversized look
• Sizes: S to 3XL
• Size reference: 6 ft 2 in wears L; 5 ft 7 in wears M

Measurements for every size are in the size guide.