Same-komon: the shark skin pattern of samurai families
Make a Same-komon wallpaper in your colors
At a glance
| Japanese name | 鮫小紋 (さめこもん, Same-komon) |
|---|---|
| Motif | Shark skin |
| Wish it carries | Protection, quiet good taste |
| Season | All year |
| Where you see it | Formal komon kimono, men’s wear |
What it looks like
Same-komon is a very fine pattern of small arcs set in overlapping rows, like the rough skin of a shark. From a short distance away it looks almost like a solid color, and only up close do you see the detail.
History
Komon means “small pattern.” In the Edo period samurai wore formal outfits dyed with very fine komon, and some powerful families chose one pattern as their own. Same-komon is traditionally associated with the Kishu branch of the Tokugawa family. The fine patterns were made with paper stencils and resist paste, a craft that is still practiced today.
What it means
Shark skin is very tough, so same-komon is said to protect the wearer like armor. It is also a sign of quiet good taste: the pattern does not shout, but it rewards a close look.
How it is drawn
Each unit is three half circles that share a center. The rows are spaced closely and every other row is shifted by one radius, so the arcs interlock. Smaller sizes give the classic shark-skin look.
Ways to use it
Teal and cream is subtle. Cream and indigo is crisp. Try a small pattern size with a thin line for a texture that looks almost like fabric.
- Open the maker with Same-komon already selected.
- Pick one of the color sets, or choose your own ground and line colors.
- Choose a size: phone, desktop, video call, square or A4 print.
- Download it as a PNG, or as an SVG if you want to edit or print it at any size.
Same-komon and 13 other patterns are in our coloring book, with the meaning behind every design.
See the coloring book on Amazon