Kabuki Samurai Tee

歌舞伎侍 (kabuki-zamurai): "the kabuki samurai."

In 1862 Kawatake Mokuami gave Edo a play about five thieves, Shiranami Gonin Otoko, and its most famous scene is a swindle gone wrong. The thief Benten Kozō walks into the Hamamatsuya kimono shop dressed as a samurai's daughter, until he's found out as a man. Instead of running, he drops his robe off one shoulder, flashes a cherry-blossom tattoo and starts the speech every kabuki fan knows: shirazā itte kikaseyashō, if you don't know, I'll tell you.

A kabuki hero in red kumadori throws up a fist on the back, his navy robe dropped off one shoulder to bare a dragon tattoo, with red peonies and teal cloud behind him. The big black character is 侍 (samurai), "one who serves," and the red box reads 武 (bu), "martial." The chest badge repeats the painted face.

It's built for anything loud: a gig, a festival night, a karaoke booth where somebody is about to attempt the big number. Light gray keeps the red sharp. The painted faces carry on through the rest of our warrior tees.

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