fish scales...

"this simple geometric pattern, called the fish scale, is based on the equilateral triangle, but there is also a version very near this one based on the isosceles triangle. the triangle is widely used in folk art in every country because it expresses faith through its connotations of sacredness of a sharp mountain peak... although the pattern derives its name from its resemblence to the scales of fish and snakes, there is little direct connection between the pattern and its natural counterpart... there are a number of varieties of this pattern all depending on the way the triangles are joined..."
japan architect, september 1964

in kobe, i have seen this pattern everywhere, including the subway and on the apron of an actor making curry udon on tv this morning...