Edo - the EDOPEDIA -

7/06/2016

inro pillbox

source :　tukubaskecth.tsukuba.ch

The famous inro of Mito Komon occupied by manekineko !

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The term inrō derives from the Sino-Japanese roots in (from Middle Chinese 'jin 印 "printed") and rō ( 籠 "cage"). Because traditional Japanese robes lacked pockets, objects were often carried by hanging them from the obi, or sash, in containers known as sagemono (a Japanese generic term for a hanging object attached to a sash). Most sagemono were created for specialized contents, such as tobacco, pipes, writing brush and ink, but the type known as inrō was suitable for carrying anything small.

Consisting of a stack of tiny, nested boxes, inrō were most commonly used to carry identity seals and medicine. The stack of boxes is held together by a cord that is laced through cord runners down one side, under the bottom, and up the opposite side. The ends of the cord are secured to a netsuke, a kind of toggle that is passed between the sash and pants and then hooked over the top of the sash to suspend the inrō. An ojime, or bead, is provided on the cords between the inrō and netsuke to hold the boxes together. This bead is slid down the two suspension cords to the top of the inrō to hold the stack together while the inrō is worn, and slid up to the netsuke when the boxes need to be unstacked to access their contents. Inrō were made of a variety of materials, including wood, ivory, bone, and lacquer. Lacquer was also used to decorate inro made of other materials.

Inrō, like the ojime and netsuke they were associated with, evolved over time from strictly utilitarian articles into objects of high art and immense craftsmanship.
- source : MORE in the wikipedia

. zooge 象牙 ivory, Elfenbein .

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source : v

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The Edo samurai knew how to look sharp
‘The World of Edo Dandyism: From Swords to Inro”
at the Nezu Museum is a splendid collection of Edo Period (1603-1868) swords and sword accessories that includes blades, scabbards and metal fittings, as well as decorative sets of inrō (pill boxes) and netsuke (carved toggles). The exhibition looks back to a fascinating period of Edo history when prosperous samurai and merchants sought out the most stylish outfits and accessories that would establish them as refined men.
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The exhibition provides a glimpse of these unique characteristics of the Edo gentleman’s wardrobe. Visitors are first met with a dazzling display of swords, which is specially lit to allow close viewing of the blades’ fine metalwork, engraving and patterning.
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Another highlight of the exhibition is the collection of tsuba (sword guards), the metal fittings attached between hilts and sword blades to prevent the grip from slipping onto the blades.
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Perhaps the most famous accoutrements of the Edo gentleman, aside from his sword, were the inrō and netsuke. The inrō, a lacquered pill box small enough to fit into the palm of the hand, would be paired with a decorative netsuke toggle. On display at the exhibition is a beautiful 18th-century inrō stand that demands attention. A dizzying assortment of inrō hang from it, replicating how it would have originally looked in the gentleman’s home. Clearly the owner of this stand must have enjoyed displaying his prized inrō collection.
The spectacular inrō in this exhibition
include one by Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891) that depicts the Chinese tale of “Zhong Kui the Demon Queller,” who, according to legend, was so powerful that he was able to capture a demon. The inrō, which has Zhong Kui standing victorious on one side and the demon on its reverse, is enclosed in a case the shape of a cage. The bamboo bars of the cage are made of mother of pearl and the rest of it is lacquered to have the appearance of rusted iron. When inside the case, the demon on the inrō is seen trapped behind bars. The artist’s playful spirit, skill of execution and ability to illustrate the narrative in such a clever manner make this a remarkable piece. ...
- source : japantimes.co.jp/culture - Yoko Haruhara -

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Turtle-shell "Inro" pocket watch
Late Edo Period. Japanese-version of a portable compact watch in a casing resembling a pillbox.

The dial rotates to keep time. The case is made entirely of turtle shell and covered completely in lacquer. This splendid clock has a sundial and compass in the lid.
According to writing on the box, the clock belonged to Nariaki Tokugawa (whose posthumous name is Rekko) of the Mito domain.
(Machine height: 5.3 cm; width: 4.5 cm; thickness: 2.5 cm)
- source : jcwa.or.jp/en wadokei -

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inrooshi, inroo shi 印籠師 Inro maker

- reference : japanese-inro.jyuluck-do.com -

Inro were first used to store the
. inkan 印鑑 seal .
For medicine there were at least three different boxes to store different kinds of pills and drugs. To keep out moisture the aikuchi 合口 opening between two boxes had to be especially tight. This was one part of an Inro where the craftsman had to show his skill. The form of these boxes changed with time from simple containers to refined pieces of accessories for the rich.

Techniques used to decorate an Inro

chinkin 沈金 gold or silver inlay in scratch marks of laquer

. makie, maki-e 蒔絵 "sprinkled picture" .

nashiji, nashi ji 梨地 - Nashiji, also called Aventurine ...
The name nashiji is thought to have originated in the resemblance that the lacquer bears to the skin of a Japanese pear, 梨 nashi. ...
- source : global.britannica.com-

. raden 螺鈿 mother-of-pearl - inlay .

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source : torinakukoesu.cocolog-nifty.com

. Tôshûsai Sharaku 東洲斎写楽 (active 1794 - 1795).

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- - - long list of books about Inro and Netsuke
- source : www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~mystudy -

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- - - - - H A I K U and S E N R Y U - - - - -

ころもがへ印籠買ひに所化（しょげ）二人
koromogae inroo kai ni shoge futari
koromogae inroo kai ni shoke futari

For the new wardrobe
To buy a seal-case
Two monks have come!
Tr.Thomas McAuley

. Yosa Buson 与謝蕪村 in Edo .

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阿波踊腰の印籠地を擦れり
awa odori koshi no inro ji o kesuru

Awa Dance !
the pill box on his belt
rubs on the ground
Tr. Gabi Greve

Saitoo Inao 伊藤伊那男 Saito Inao (1949 - )

. WKD : 阿波踊り Awa odori dance .
- - kigo for autumn -
This is a special dance that originated in Tokushima (Shikoku) more than 400 years ago.
It is performed during the days of the Bon Festival (o-bon) in many parts of Japan nowadays. The Inro of many dancers have an extra-long string.

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印籠の蒔絵の金や夏羽織
inro no makie no kin ya natsubaori

gold decoration
on the lacquer of this Inro -
light summer robe

Nomura Kishuu 野村喜舟 Nomura Kishu (1886 - 1983)

. WKD : natsubaori 夏羽織 light summer coat.

CLICK for more Inro with Maki-e decoration !

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6/30/2016

kagami mirror

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Edo shokunin　江戸の職人 Craftsmen of Edo .
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kagami 鏡 mirror, Spiegel

. WKD : kigo related to the mirror .
kyoodai 鏡台 mirror stand
kyoodai iwai 鏡台祝 celebrating the mirror stand
hatsu kagami 初鏡 "first (use of the) mirror"
In Samurai Families, on the 20 of January, the mirrors were opened for the first time, some kagami mochi offered and then ritually eaten by the womanfolk.
sanmenkyoo 三面鏡 three-mirrored dresser

- also introduced are
wakyou, wakyoo　和鏡 Wakyo
Japanese style mirrors / History of mirrors in Japan
Mirror with auspicious symbols of winter

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ekagami, e-kagami 柄鏡　mirror with a handle

ekagami, e-kagami 柄鏡　mirror with a handle

. . . A mirror with one's family crest may signify the self assertion of the family or individual who used such a mirror. A mirror with a scenic motif, such as Mount Fuji and the pine grove of Miho or the eight views of Omi, may express one's desire to see these famous sights or to travel.

By the Edo period handles, often bound in rattan, were added to Japanese brass or bronze mirrors. The mirror discs also became larger to accommodate the increased size of ladies' hair arrangements. These types of mirror were known as e-kagami.
Perhaps it can be said that the motifs on handled mirrors truly reflected the heart of the Edoite!
- source : www.kyohaku.go.jp

- History of mirrors in Japan -
- reference -

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Mirrors were first introduced for religious rituals, but had been used by the aristocracy for combing and make-up since the Heian period.
In the Edo period, they became widely used by all people.

kagamishi 鏡師 mirror maker

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kagami migaki 鏡磨き /　kagami togi 鏡研ぎmirror polisher in Edo

Since the mirrors of the Edo period lost their shine very soon, it was necessary to polish them regularly.

source :cleanup.jp/life/edo/17

The bronze mirrors of the ladies of Edo had to be polished at least once a year. A good business time for the wayside craftsmen was in winter, toward the New Year.
They sat by the roadside, putting the mirror in front of them whilst polishing it. So they could see their own face all the time.

They were often the subject of senryu.

わが面で試みをする鏡とぎ
waga men de kokoromi o suru kagamitogi

using my own face
as a trial object
to polish this mirror

磨ぎたての鏡びっくり下女気絶
togitate no kagami bikkuri gejo kizetsu

looking into
the newly polished mirror
the servant faints

Maybe now she realized the great difference in her own "beauty" and that of here lovely lady.

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togishi 研ぎ師研師 polisher of mirrors, swords and blades
kenma 研磨 sword polishing

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Kenma - Japanese Sword Polishing
The basic 2 stages of Kenma ( Polishing ) are the Shitaji-Kenma ( Foundation polish ) and Shiage-Kenma ( Final polish ). The 3rd stage is the final, touch-up polish. Normally, the 9 Japanese polishing stones are used to complete the Kenma. .....
- - - - - Kenma procedures
1. Mine Kenma
2. Shinogi-ji Kenma
3. Hira-ji Kenma ( Flat area polish )
4. Yokote-suji-kiri ( Side line formation )
- - - - - Minor Polish
The minor polish can be done to the sword with scuff markings or the sword with Hike ( Scratch ).
- source : sfswordsociety -

- reference -

. Saeki Yataroo 佐柄木弥太郎 Saeki Yataro .
The official togimonoshi 砥物師 of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
He lived in a district named after him,
Kanda Saekichoo 神田佐柄木町　Kanda Saeki-cho, Kanda Saekicho

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Japan in the Edo Period - An Ecologically-Conscious Society
There were many other kinds of specialized craftsmen to repair broken items, including paper lanterns and locks, replenish vermilion inkpads, and refurbish old Japanese wooden footwear, mills and mirrors, to name a few. They supported a society where nothing was thrown away but everything was carefully repaired, and used until it could truly be used no more.
- source : Eisuke Ishikawa / JFS

. kagami ema 鏡絵馬 votive tablet as a mirror .
You can paint the part of your face that should improve its beauty.

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合わせ鏡のおひさ / Takashimaya no O-Hisa 高島屋おひさ

source : kanazawabunko.com

The rebus picture (hanji-e 判じ絵) :
田圃（た）TA、鹿島（かしま）KASHIMA 踊り手の尾（お）O に火（ひ）HI がつき、徳利と盃で酒（さ）SA で、
「たかしまおひさ」- Takashima Ohisa

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kagami o miru geisha 鏡を見る芸者

source : allposters.co.jp

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猫が鏡を覗いている cat peeking in the mirror

source : bumblebees.at.webry.info

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CLICK for many more photos !

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. Join the Ukiyo-E friends on facebook ! .

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. shinkyoo 神鏡 Shinkyo - "mirror of the kami", divine mirror .

The Imperial Regalia of Japan (三種の神器, Sanshu no Jingi / Mikusa no Kandakara), also known as the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan, consist of

the sword Kusanagi (草薙劍, Kusanagi no Tsurugi)),
the mirror Yata no Kagami (八咫鏡), and
the jewel Yasakani no Magatama (八尺瓊曲玉).

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Mirrors in history and mirror superstitions
... There is a Buddhist belief that negative spirits will enter houses through the door if they have triangular-shaped roofs. Hanging a small circular mirror in front of the door will prevent the bad spirits from entering.
In Japan, bronze mirrors (imported from China c.300AD) were associated with Amaterasu, sun goddess and imperial ancestor — who, at the dawn of time, ordered her grandson to descend from heaven to rule over Japan and gave him a sacred mirror providing him and his successors perpetual access to the divine sun.
Throughtout medieval Japan, mirrors were considered sacred objects—used not only in rarefied imperial ritual and display but also to ward off evil spirts and, when placed in Shinto shrines, to speak with the gods.
- source : japanesemythology.wordpress.com -

makyoo 魔鏡 Makyo, magic mirror
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..... In Japan, bronze mirrors are known as magic mirrors, or makkyo (魔鏡). One side is brightly polished, while an embossed design decorates the reverse side. Remarkably, when light is directed onto the face of the mirror, and reflected to a flat surface, an image magically appears (usually the one featured on its back). While the metal is completely solid, the reflected image gives the impression that it must be in some way translucent. For many centuries, the ‘magic’ of these mirrors baffled both laymen and scientists.
The currently accepted explanation for this phenomenon is that during its construction the mirror’s surface is scraped, scratched, and polished, then coated with an amalgram of mercury, thereby causing stresses and “preferential buckling” into convexities of a scale too small to be observed by the naked eye, but matching the pattern on the back of the mirror.

Kyoto Journal sat down with the man rumored to be the last remaining makkyo maker in the world — Yamamoto Akihisa — and his friend, Yoshida Hisashi. Mr. Akihisa is descended from a family of mirror makers based in Kyoto.
.....
My grandfather received a commission — from Kyoto University, if I recall correctly — to make a makkyo mirror. People wanted to know if it was possible to make makkyo in present times. My grandfather had been actively involved in crafting mirrors for Shinto shrines since even before the Meiji Restoration (1868), and he had a sample makkyo, so he was already familiar with the method, although he hadn’t attempted to reproduce one himself until then.
.....
- Read the rest of the interview here :
- source : kyotojournal.org/renewa -

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jigokudayuu jisu wa edi 「地獄太夫実ハ壊泥」the famous Geisha turned hell monster
IRON MAIDEN アイアン・メイデン

source : mag.japaaan.com/archives

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磨なをす鏡も清し雪の花
togi-naosu kagami mo kiyoshi yuki no hana

Polished anew
the holy mirror too is clear–
blossoms of snow
Tr. Shirane

Matsuo Basho　松尾芭蕉

. WKD : kagami 鏡 mirror .

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- - - To join me on facebook, click the image !

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. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. shokunin 職人 craftsman, craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

. senryu, senryū 川柳　Senryu poems in Edo .

. Japanese Architecture - Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]

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- - - - - H A I K U and S E N R Y U - - - - -

磨なをす鏡も清し雪の花
togi-naosu kagami mo kiyoshi yuki no hana

Polished anew
the holy mirror too is clear–
blossoms of snow
Tr. Shirane

Matsuo Basho　松尾芭蕉

. WKD : kagami 鏡 mirror .

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Aoyanagi Restaurant

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. ryoorijaya 料理茶屋 Chaya tea stall serving food .
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Aoyanagi 青柳 Restaurant

A famous tea stall serving food.

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東両国の駒留橋 at Komatodomebashi, Eastern Ryogoku
広重 Hiroshige
- source : ndl.go.jp/landmarks

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Aoyanagi Ryogoku Haru-no-suke 青柳両国春之助
Toto ryuko sanjuroku kaiseki 東都流行三十六會席
(Thirty-Six Fashionable Restaurants in Edo)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Nakamura Fukusuke as Higuchi (Jirô) Kanemitsu disguised as the boatman Matsuemon

Thirty-six Fashionable Restaurants of the Eastern Capital
(Tôto ryûkô san-jû-rokkaiseki, 東都流行三十六會席 / 東都流行三十六会席 )
This series shows bust portraits of kabuki actors in character with restaurants in the background.
Dogu-ya Restaurant at Mukôjima Jubei 道具屋向島甚三 Jinzo
Suzaki Restaurant 洲嵜
Ôji Restaurant
Yagenaki Restaurant
Nanakusa no kwan Restaurant at Yushima 湯嶌
Yagenori Restaurant
Konpa-ro (Kinparo) (Golden Wave) Restaurant in Imado
Sobai Restaurant at Mukôjima 向島葱賣
Mukôjima Restaurant
Okina-an, meaning “cottage of the old man”
Sanya Restaurant 山谷
Ôdo Terasaki (or Ooto-kichi)
Yanagibashi Restaurant in Baisen

- source : kuniyoshiproject.com -

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- More famous restaurants in Edo

大七 Daishichi （向島）serving river fish and lending Yukata
平岩 Hiraiwa （向島）famous for its koi 鯉料理
万八 Manpachi（柳橋）visited by many bunjin 文人墨客 literati
田川屋Tagawaya （大音寺前）on the way home from Yoshiwara, with a bathing facility

植木屋 Uekiya（木母寺）Since the time of Tokugawa Iemitsu 掛茶屋
- also called 植半 Uehan (Uekiya Hanemon)
植木屋半兵衛 The cook was Uekiya Hanbei

- source : ndl.go.jp/landmarks

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Edo Culture: Daily Life and Diversions in Urban Japan, 1600-1868
Matsunosuke Nishiyama, Gerald Groemer

Other restaurants:
Massaki, Shikian, Kinparo, Musashiya, Ogura-An, Sakuragawa, Manpachi and Tagawa
Almost all these restaurants lay along the boat route of the Sumida River.
Yaozen and Hirasei
tsuukaku "men of taste"
- source : books.google.co.jp -

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Scene in a Yoshiwara Kitchen
In the kitchen you can see the preparation for fish and octopus.
Hishikawa Moronobu　菱川師宣　(1618 - 1694)

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- - - - - H A I K U and S E N R Y U - - - - -

. WKD : ao yanagi, aoyanagi 青柳 green willows .
- - kigo for late spring - -

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6/28/2016

Yaozen restaurant

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Food in Edo 江戸の食卓 .
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yaozen 八百善 Yaozen restaurant

source : blog.goo.ne.jp/shiotetsu_2011

This famous restaurant opened in 1803 near Yoshiwara. The founder was
Yaoya Zenshiroo 八百屋善四郎 Yaoya Zenshiro
(1768 - 1839)

The restaurant was located in 江戸浅草山谷 Asakusa Sanya. It has started as a food delivery service (仕出屋 shidashiya) and Zenshiro was the 4th generation.
He turned the restaurant to a ryoori chaya 料理茶屋 "tea stall serving food" and soon into a high-class venture, much loved by the 俳諧 Haikai poets of its time.
Some of its famous customers were
酒井抱一 Sakai Hoitsu (1760-1828), 大田南畝 Ota Nanpo (1749-1823), 亀田鵬斎 Kameda Hosai (1752 - 1826) and 谷文晁 Tani Buncho (1763 - 1841).

Zenshiro had also published a book:
Edo Ryuukoo Ryooritsu　江戸流行料理通 Edo Ryuko Ryori-Tsu

The book contains the recipes of the seasonal dishes served at the restaurant.
He worked on it from 1822 to 1835, when it was finally all published.

CLICK for more photos !

The Kamaboko served at Yaozen was made from the following ingredients:
鰹味噌 bonito miso,、鯛 sea bream, 甘鯛 sweet sea bream、鱚 Kisu whiting, 鮭 salmon, 鰆 Sawara makerel, 鱈 codfish, 平目 flunder, 生貝 raw shells, 雲丹 Uni sea urchin, 烏賊 Ika cuttlefish
玉子黄身 yellow of an egg, 濃茶 thick (strong) tea.

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Of the first catch of the very expensive First Bonito, three fish were given to a famous restaurant Yaozen
for the price of 2 Ryo.

The price for a normal menu at Yaozen was
一人前が銀十文

. WKD : hatsugatsuo 初鰹 first bonito .

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創業享保二年江戸料理「八百善」

- - - - - Check out the homepage of the present Yaozen :
- source : yaozen.net

八百善を茶漬けにする
yaozen wa chozuke ni suru

Let's go to Yaozen to have some O-Chazuke.
(O-chazuke was a cheap dish of plain cold rice with a bit of flavor and warmed with pouring green tea over it.)

. chaya, -jaya 茶屋 tea shop, tea stall .

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source : ab.auone-net.jp/~hcstoria/shibutsu

Visitors at the second floor of Yaozen 八百善の二階座敷
in the middle is 亀田鵬斎 Kameda Hosai, on the left 大窪詩佛 Okubo Shibutsu (1767 - 1837), on the right 蜀山人 Shokusanjin (Ota Nanpo) and with the back to the onlooker, 谷文晁 Tani Buncho.
Painting by 鍬形恵斎 Kuwagata Keisai (北尾政美 Kitao Masayoshi) (1764 - 1824)

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- quote -
Yaozen (Sanya)
Founded in 1717 in Asakusa Sanya and became one of the most famous restaurants in Edo, and became a high class salon where a number of writers and artists gathered. Playwright and author of comic poems Ota Nanpo was a regular patron of the restaurant and composed a poem that praised the restaurant as first-class.

歌川広重　Utagawa Hiroshige

In 1822 the cuisine text Edo Ryuko Ryoritu was published, which also became popular as a souvenir of Edo.
- source : ndl.go.jp/landmarks/e -

This is probably a meeting of a 狂句合 Kyoku poetry group. (Kyoku is similar to the present-day Senryu 川柳 humorous poems.

八百善と聞いて生姜ははづす也
yaozen to kiite shooga wa hazusu nari

shoga was a secret word for a ketchinboo けちん坊, a stingy person.

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Yaozen 八百善
After the great fire of Meireki 明暦の大火 in 1657, the shop opened anew at 新鳥越２丁目（山谷） Sanya.

扇地紙形枠内に　山谷八百善とあり、風景は隅田川。石浜には上客用の別荘がありました。
人物は柳橋金子屋の小竹。The lady is O-Take from Yanagibashi.
豊原国周 Toyohara Kunichika (1835 – 1900)

Around 1810 it started anew as a Shidashiya and from 1818 it built some 座敷 rooms to entertain the visitors.
守貞漫稿 Morisada Manko writes that in 1853 Yaozen has stopped to have guest in his house, and did only delivery service of food, but around 1850 begun anew to have guests.
栗山善四郎 Kuriyama Zenshiro, the fourth generation of Yaozen masters, begun inviting the literati of his time.
Even 葛飾北斎 Katsushika Hokusai frequented his restaurant.
- - - ryooritsuu, ryoori tsuu 料理通 a food expert, gourmet of our time.

- Here is the list of a 会席料理 Kaiseki Ryori menu
鱠 -- 紙塩鯛薄作り・じゅん菜巻き葉・織切りわさび、煎酒酢。
汁 -- 粒はつたけ・はぜすり流し。
椀盛り -- うずら摘入れ・笹がき牛蒡・丸しめじ。
焼物 -- 骨抜き鮎の魚田。
吸い物 -- 裂きまつたけ・絞り汁。
口取り -- 火取りのしあわび・桜の葉塩漬け。
香の物 -- 菜漬け・丸うり味噌漬け。
硯蓋七色 -- 鯛かまぼこ・あわびやわらか煮・篠さより・裏白かわたけ・黒くわいきんとん・ゆずうま煮・朝日防風。
- reference : kabuki-za.com/syoku -

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- quote -
Comparison of Menus (Oryori Kondate Kurabe)
1815 (Bunka 12)
This is a ranking list covering serious restaurants within Edo. Promoters include
"Yaoya Zenshirō" also known as "Yaozen", an owner of the high-end restaurant that was loved by many educated men.

Since the beginning of the Bunka/Bunsei eras (1804 - 1830), many ranking lists that give an insight into the food culture in Edo in those days were published. This ranking is one of them, with Tagawa-ya, a famous catering restaurant in front of Daion-ji temple (in Ryūsen, Taitō ward) as the top-ranked restaurant in the east, and Kawaguchi, a Japanese style luxury restaurant in Hashiba (in Taitō ward) as the top in the west. Hashiba was an elegant place along the Sumida river with many vacation houses of wealthy merchants and luxury Japanese restaurants.
"Kayaba-chō Iseta" written in the center of referees refers to the restaurant Iseya Tahei in front of Kayaba-chō Yakushi-mae (Koto-bashi bridge in Sumida ward). This restaurant offered Tsukudani (food boiled down in soy sauce) to visitors who had come to worship at Sumiyoshi Shrine (in Tsukuda, Chūō ward) as something to go with young sake, and developed it into one of the local specialties in Edo.
- source : library.metro.tokyo.jp/Portals-

. Hashiba 橋場 Hashiba district, "place with a bridge" - Taito ward .

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source : ja.ukiyo-e.org/image

上野八百善 Ueno Yaozen
豊原国周 1878 - Toyohara Kunichika (1835 – 1900)
開化三十六會席 - Kaika sanjuroku kaiseki /
Thirty-six famous restaurants and views of civilization

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6/26/2016

hooki broom

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. Edo shokunin　江戸の職人 Craftsmen of Edo .
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hooki 箒 / ほうき Hoki, broom, Besen

A broom is necessary to keep things clean, the home, the road . . .
hatsubooki 初箒（はつぼうき）first (use of the) broom
hakizome 掃初 (はきぞめ) first cleaning
... fukihajime 拭始（ふきはじめ）beginning to clean
... hatsusooji 初掃除（はつそうじ） first cleaning
- kigo for the New Year-

. WKD : hatsubooki 初箒 first (use of the) broom .

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shuro hooki 棕櫚ほうき broom made from Shuro palm
For a tawashi, the sheets of hemp palm are first dissipated into fibers and then bound together.
For a broom they are first rounded up into bundles, fixed with bronze wires into a shape of five or seven bundles, and in the final process dissipated for about half of the length on a special maschine.

. tawashi たわし　/ 束子 scrubbing brush .

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. Edo shokunin 江戸職人 craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

hookishi 箒師 making brooms in Edo
hookiya 箒屋 vendor of brooms

Look at more samples of Edo Hoki here :
白木屋傳兵衛 Shirakiya　Denbei
- source : edohouki.com -

- quote
- - - Brooms originated in Shinto Rituals
Brooms were first used for sweeping purposes in Heian period. Bamboo, straw, or hemp were used to make brooms at the time. It was after the Edo era began when broom cypress began to be used for making brooms. Brooms in Japan were essentially used as a magical tool - for example, to stroke down a pregnant woman’s stomach with a broom today is still customary, after 400 years. Perhaps an aristocrat’s profound desire for peace was the beginning for this quiet and gentle tool.

- - - A Reevaluation of Traditional Techniques
“Shirokiya Denbe” was founded in 1830 in Ginza, first as a tatami-mat maker. Later on, after specializing in making brooms, the techniques have been handed down from generation to generation. Following the Showa period, as “modern” living came around, vacuum cleaners lowered the demand for brooms. ...

- - - The Attraction of Edo Style Brooms
If you have never used an Edo style broom before, you might consider Edo brooms to be just an old thing. However, if you use it just once, you will know immediately how attractive a tool it can be for your life.　There are a number of benefits of using Edo style brooms, such as they are soft and elastic so that one can sweep without laying unnecessary stress on it. Different from vacuum cleaners, you do not need to worry about the noise or any emissions.　While it depends on how you deal with it, brooms using natural materials can last 5 to 10 years, and as you use them more, it can clean a wooden or tatami-mat floor more.

- - - The Key to Edo Style Broom Making
The most important part of making an Edo broom is “Ho-yori,” which is selecting fine “ears.” The essential process starts here, and normally it takes 3 years for a craftsperson to become independent. Ears are sorted into 3 to 12 kinds by hardness, length, and color, but one-third of the ears will be thrown away at this stage. After sorting them out, he makes four or five small bundles, and he puts stems on them, without the tip of the ears going between the center part and the outside bundles, in order to keep a small space. Then, he gives it elasticity, which is the main characteristic of Edo-style brooms.
He attaches several tama-bundles in a row and tightens them together to the utmost with a wet hemp rope, adjusting their balance. After firmly fixing the joint of the bamboo handle to the body with an aluminum wire, he cuts the ear tips straight.
Then, he presses the body under a Japanese cushion. This entire process is done manually without air-conditioner, so as to not dry out the ears.
It definitely takes a long time to raise craftspeople with all of these techniques, so it has been a serious issue to find succesors.

- - - The Difference Between Japanese Brooms and Imports
- - - How to Use an Edo Style Broom Carefully
Shirokiya Denbe / 3-9-8 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku Tokyo
- source : tokyochuo.net/issue

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Apart from the Shuro palm, there were brooms of other materials.

. habooki 羽箒 "feather broom" .
羽根箒 - to clean the space around silk worms

kusabooki 草帚 "broom from grass", often with a long handle to clean the Tatami mats
. . . CLICK here for more Photos !

takebooki 竹帚 bamboo broom
The most commonly used bamboo types are
moosoochiku 孟宗竹 Moso Bamboo, Phyllostachys pubescens and
hachiku 淡竹 Phyllostachys nigra.
. . . CLICK here for more Photos !

tebooki　手箒 hand broom

- reference and more photos : utinogarakuta.blog.fc2.com -

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source : teramoto.co.jp/history

Seller and buyer of Hoki brooms in Edo
「hooki uri ほうき売り」and「hooki kai ほうき買い」
It was truly a recycle society.

source : edokurashi.hatenablog.com
selling baskets and brooms

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source : utinogarakuta.blog.fc2.com

Takasago 高砂 Noh play
河鍋暁斎 Kyosai (1831-1889)

. Takasago 高砂 a happy couple.
This legend is one of the oldest in Japanese mythology. An old couple - his name is Joo (尉) and hers is Uba (媼)....
The old woman is using a broom to sweep away trouble
and he carries a rake to rake in good fortune. In Japanese this is also a play of words with "One Hundred Years" (haku > sweeping the floor) and "until 99 years" (kujuku made > kumade, meaning a rake).

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

. Hookigami, Hōkigami 箒神 (ほうきがみ) Hokigami, Hahakigami
Legends about the Broom Deity .
Many legends and tales about the broom are related to giving birth.

.......................................................................... Miyagi 宮城県 ......................................

安産のために、出産のとき産婦の枕元に箒を立てたり、あるいは箒を産の神として産婦に拝ませて、産気づいた時にその箒で腹を撫でるという。

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- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -
115 hooki 箒 (01)

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- - - To join me on facebook, click the image !

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. shokunin 職人 craftsman, craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. senryu, senryū 川柳　Senryu poems in Edo .

. Japanese Architecture - Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]- - - - - #hookibooki #hookibroom #broom - - - -
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6/16/2016

Iwamotocho district

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
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Iwamotochoo, Iwamotochō 岩本町 Iwamotocho
Benkeibashi 弁慶橋 Benkeibashi bridge
Aizomegawa 藍染川 river Aizomegawa

- quote
Iwamotochō (岩本町) is a district of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan.
It consists of 3 chōme.
This article also deals with Kanda-Iwamotochō (神田岩本町). As of April 1, 2007, the total population of the two districts is 1,989.

Iwamotochō is located on the northeastern part of Chiyoda. The area consisting of both Iwamotochō and Kanda-Iwamotochō borders Kanda-Sakumakaji and Kanda-Sakumachō to the north; Higashi-Kanda to the east; Nihonbashi-Kodenmachō and Nihonbashi-Honchō, Chūō to the south; and Kanda-Sudachō, Kanda-Higashimatsushitachō, Kanda-Higashikonyachō, Kanda-Konyachō, Kanda-Nishifukudachō and Kanda-Mikurachō to the west.

Showa-Dori Avenue runs between Iwamotochō and Kanda-Iwamotochō. Iwamotochō, located east to the avenue, has already undergone modernization of the addressing system while, in Kanda-Iwamotochō, located west to the avenue, the modernization has not been enforced yet. In Chiyoda, many districts in the Kanda area has the prefix Kanda-; the addressing system modernization has not been enforced in such districts.
- source : wikipedia

During the early Edo period, this area was quite a swamp and unfit for human population. There was a cliff that looked almost like a goose, Iwapuchi　岩淵 and a lot of 笹 Sasa reeds grew here.
In the middle of the Edo period the area was dried and Samurai begun to build their estates here. A lot of the area was kept empty for fire protection purposes 火除明地.
The name Iwamoto begun to be used at the time, meaning "below the cliff/rock" 岩の根元.
Now there are many shops selling cloths and tailors have their ateliers there.

The bridge 弁慶橋 Benkeibashi crossed the river 藍染川 Aizomegawa here.

. Higashi-Ryukancho　東龍閑町 Higashi-Ryūkanchō .
Now Chioda ward, Iwamoto district and Kanda Iwamoto district and Higashi-Kanda.

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- quote -
岩本町の歴史
家康入府の後、江戸の発展にともない、火災や洪水の防止と物流の大動脈として神田川が掘割されました。（万治4年、1661年）
その時、掘り出された土が川の両側に土手の様に積み上げられ、そこに柳の木が植えられた事からこのたり一帯を「柳原土手通り」と言います。

その土手にそった現在の岩本町・東神田地区はその頃より商人と職人の町、庶民の町として栄え、特に文明開化以後は「洋服」の街として東京の衣料の中心地として発展してきました。
- source : millionarrow.co.jp/history -

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藍染川 river Aizomegawa, Aizome-gawa, Aisomegawa

This river flowed in the Shinobazunoike 不忍池 Shinobazu pond.

- quote -
Kon'ya-cho 紺屋町　
This was a town ruled by the dyer 土屋五郎右衛門 Tsuchiya Goroemon who was allowed by Tokugawa Ieyasu to purchase Japanese indigo plants from the Kanto Region and Izu from the Keicho Era (1596-1615), where many indigo dyers lived together.
The river (channel) that flowed nearby was called the Aizome-gawa River (indigo dyed river).
The ruins of the small shrine called 於玉稲荷 Otamainari and the ruins of the 於玉が池 Otamagaike reservoir are located in the north of the town and it is associated with the following legend. During the middle ages, this area was along the highway to Oshu, and there was a beautiful woman named Tama who served tea to travelers near the reservoir. 2 men proposed marriage to Tama, however she could not decide between them and drowned herself in the reservoir.
It is said the village people dedicated the small shrine to Tama's spirit.
- source : ndl.go.jp/landmarks/e/sights -

. Konyachō 神田紺屋町 Konya-Cho .
- Introduction -

. 駒込千駄木町 Komagome Sendagi .
文京区 Bunkyo ward

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- reference : aizome-gawa -
"Aizome Gawa" (The Resurrection of a Woman at Aizome-gawa River), Noh Drama

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Benkeibashi 弁慶橋 Benkeibashi bridge

The bridge is rather steep and once you are on the top, there are two exits, one to the right and one to the left.
A text from 1732 mentions the difficult construction of this bridge, by the master carpenter named
Benkei Kozaemon 棟梁弁慶小左衛門.
The bridge spans over the Benkeigoo 弁慶濠 Benkei Moat, in 赤坂見附 Akasaka Mitsuke.

The bridge also connects to 紀尾井町 Kioicho, the area with the estates of the Kishu Tokugawa, Owari Tokugawa and Ii from Hakone were located.
「紀州徳川家」--「尾張徳川家」--「井伊家（彦根藩）」

source : yasuda.iobb.net/wp-googleearth

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- quote -
Benkei Bashi Bridge
At first, a Kyoto Style wooden bridge Benkeibashi was built at the outer moat of Akasakamitsuke in 1888. The name Benkeibashi was named after another bridge across the Aizome River near the Otamaike pond in Kanda, (Kanda Matsued-cho, currently Iwamoto-cho). Due to reclamation work on the river the old bridge was dismantled and what materials remained were reused in the building of the new Benkeibashi bridge.
The original ”Benkeibashi” was built by the master carpenter “Daiku Benkei Kozaemon,” who was in the service of the Edo Shogunate. The name of the bridge comes from that man’s name.
The bridge was fully reconstructed in 1985 and careful consideration was given to its setting and historical nature. The construction began in October 1983 and was completed in December 1985. The opening ceremony was held on December 18, 1985 with many guests related to the construction in attendance.
- source : koujimachi.net/newtown -

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- quote -
Benkeibashi [Strong man bridge] spanned the moat protecting the Fukiage approach into the Edo Castle (and, later, the Imperial Palace) grounds from Akasaka Mitsuke. Fukiage comprised the western area of the castle grounds made into a firebreak after the great Meireki fire of 1657. (A 10-acre section of the grounds was also turned into a garden, now within the grounds of the New Otani hotel.) The bridge as seen in these images was constructed in 1889. Sadly, as with Nihonbashi, an elevated expressway now almost completely obscures from aerial view the present-day Benkeibashi.

“There used to be parsley and shepherds-purse growing in spring on the banks of the Tamaike reservoir, and families used to got there to pick them. The flowers alongside the outer moat here were indeed so splendid that they would now be thought of as one of the sights of Tokyo. The green of the willows of Benkeibashi, too – especially in the haze of rain on a spring morning – were just indescribable.”
— Thirty Years in Tokyo, Tayama Katai, 1917

- Look at more photos here:
- reference source : oldtokyo.com/benkeibashi-akasaka-mitsuke -

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- source : yasuda.iobb.net -

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- quote -
Lafcadio Hearn in Japan
The scene viewed from Benkeibashi Bridge near Hotel New Otani in Akasaka,Tokyo. This place around the exterior moat of Edo Castle is now heavy traffic,but only a few passengers passed at the time of Edo period.
The left picture shows around the scene of Kinokunizaka Slope,the stage of the novel titled "Mujina".
In the beginning of the novel, there are passages as follows,

"On the Akasaka Road,in Tokyo,there is a slope called Kii-no-kuni-zaka-which means the Slope of the Province of Kii. I do not know why it is called the Slope of the Province of Kii. On one side of this slope you see an ancient moat, deep and very wide, with high green banks rising up to some place of gardens."
- source : bekkoame.ne.jp/~gensei -

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Benkei Bridge - Sekino Jun'ichirō, 1945
..... His subject in this print is Benkei Bridge, which crosses the outer moat of Edo Castle on the north side. Named for a legendary monk-warrior of the twelfth century, it still stands today.

- source : myjapanesehanga.com -

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The old bridge is now gone and only a marker 弁慶橋跡　reminds of its presence.

- reference source -

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. Musashibo Benkei 武蔵坊弁慶 (? - 1189) .

- reference : Benkeibashi Edo -

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