Gift cover (fukusa) with Shojo chrysanthemum sprites and character for jar

Three chrysanthemum sprites with red "wigs" dance around a large gold jar. One carries a sake cup, the other a ladle, and the third a fan for drunken dancing. The jar is labeled with a stylized version of the Chinese character for "sake," the rice-based winelike beverage.

Considering the alcohol-related nature of the subject matter, it may be surprising that this gift cover would have been considered appropriate for use at a birth, a childhood ritual shrine visit, a graduation, or a coming of age ceremony.

The sprites are associated with a famous Noh play called Shojo. In the play, a sake vendor is rewarded for being a good son by daily visits from a man who drinks and drinks and never turns red in the face. Thanks to this customer, the merchant becomes rich and happy. Later, the customer is revealed to be a water spirit named Shojo who dances for him in a dramatic red wig and sings of the glories of "chrysanthemum water" (a euphemism for sake). In the end the happy merchant receives a magic jar of sake that will never run dry.

See what happens when you are good to your parents?