Crane vs Serpent Tee

鶴と蛇 (tsuru to hebi): "the crane and the serpent."

For decades the red-crowned crane was thought to be gone from Japan, until a small flock turned up in the Kushiro Marsh of eastern Hokkaido in 1924. Its Japanese name, tanchō, means "red crown," after the patch of bare red skin on its head. Cranes have meant long life in Japan for centuries, and the saying goes tsuru wa sennen, kame wa mannen: "the crane lives a thousand years, the turtle ten thousand."

A red-crowned crane spreads its wings on the front with a teal snake wound around its legs, reeds and water under them both. Across the top, three white characters spell out the fight: 鶴 (tsuru), "crane," 蛇 (hebi), "snake," and 戦 (sen), "battle."

Someone who has come through a long fight still standing will see the point of a crane with a snake wound around its legs. So will people who love birds more than they let on. The serpent tees hold the snake's side of the argument.

• Fabric: 100% combed cotton, 230gsm, pre-shrunk and soft-washed
• Print: direct-to-garment (DTG)
• Color: washed black
• 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.