Originally thought to have come from ancient Persia, the seigaiha pattern entered Japan via the Silk Road in the sixth century. It gained cultural prominence in Japan as one of the key patterns kagura dancers wore during traditional Shinto ceremonies, before later entering use by the wider populace.

Formed of three crescents stacked atop one another, the pattern represents the open sea and its waves, and in Japanese culture is thought to symbolise gratitude for the bounties of the sea and a wish for a peaceful life.