Longevity God Tee

寿老人 (Jurōjin): "the old man of long life."

Low on the southern horizon in winter sits Canopus, a star so far south that it never rises over northern Japan. Chinese astronomers called it the Old Man Star, and catching sight of it was taken as a sign of long life. Jurōjin is that star as a god: a Taoist sage who came to Japan from China and took a place among the Seven Lucky Gods, usually shown with a tall staff and a deer at his side.

On the back he stands on clouds as a black silhouette with a red beard, a tall red staff in one hand and a round red fruit in the other. His name runs down the right in big red characters, 寿老人 (Jurōjin): 寿 means long life and 老人 an old man. A red line portrait of his face sits on the chest.

In Japan, turning 60 is kanreki, the year the zodiac comes full circle, and families mark it with something red. The other lucky gods are good company, but a red and black long-life god on white makes a fine gift for a parent hitting that mark.

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