Smoke Kitsune Tee

煙の狐 (kemuri no kitsune): "the smoke fox."

At the gate of almost any Inari shrine in Japan, a pair of stone foxes sits facing the path, and most of them hold something in their mouths. One may grip a key, read as the key to the rice storehouse, while its partner holds a round jewel. Others carry a sheaf of rice or a rolled scroll. Foxes are the messengers of Inari, the god of the rice harvest, and once you notice the mouths you start checking every fox you pass.

Here a dark fox dives down the front through curls of gray cloud, its tails fanned out behind it. In its jaws is a scroll tied with mint green cords and tassels, the one cool color in a scene kept to black and gray like an ink painting. There's no Japanese to translate on this one; the fox does the talking.

It's a front graphic, so it sits well under an open overshirt or an unzipped jacket, and the gray stays soft against black. Shrine guardians, fox fire and nine tails share the kitsune collection with it. Hand it to whoever checks the mouth of every stone fox; this one holds the scroll.

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