下町風俗資料館

創設理由

This is the Shitamachi Folk Life Museum. In English, Shitamachi literally means downtown.

It was built recently in 1980 with the invention of handing down from one generation to another the history of common peop1e’s life from the middle of the Meiji era to the Great Earthquake in 1923.

Many years ago there were a lot of merchants and artisans in this town, Shitamachi. Yet, sadly those people and many more suffered greatly from the Great Earthquake in 1923 and later the war in 1945 which destroyed many things representative of Japanese daily life. That is why this museum was built.

In this museum the objects on display may be handled by the visitors so that they can really experience the past. We don’t have to get special permission to open the drawers and look at everything. We can touch anything in the drawers.

昔の髪型

This is an example of the old Japanese hair style.

I am afraid I can not do it like this myself. Instead, I have to go to the beauty parlor.

ちょうちん

This is a Chochin or a paper lantern.

In order to create light, a candle is placed inside.

It is used mainly outdoors　on festive occasions. They make a very pretty sight when they are all lit up.

アイロン

This is an old fashioned iron.

In the early times, we put coals in it to heat it up.

弁当箱

This is a lunch box.

Usually, we use it as a box for rice balls and pickles.

おろし金

This is an Oroshigane or a grater.

We use it for grating radish and ginger.

お神輿

This is an Omikoshi or a portable shrine.

People carry it on their shoulders in festivals.

Long ago, inside a portable shrine there was always a seat on which an emperor sat.

高枕

This is a Takamakura or a high pillow.

I will show you how to use it. Please watch me.

ゴミ箱

This is a Gomibako or a trash box.

It is made of wood.

障子

This is a Shoji or a sliding door covered with Japanese paper. It is used as a kind of curtain, admitting an outside light to the room.

厠と手洗い鉢

This is an old fashioned toilet.

This is a basin for washing hands.

洗濯板

This is a washboard.

We use one in the tub.

長屋

This is a tenement house.

People who lived in tenement houses always helped each other. In this way, the tenement houses became a community during the early times.

折り紙

This is Origami.

It is the art of folding paper. A piece of colored paper is folded to form the shape of birds, animals, flowers and many other things. We never use scissors or paste.

One of the most popular forms of Origami is that of a crane. The crane symbolizes long life.

三味線

This is a Shamisen.

It is like a guitar. The body is covered with cat skin.

箒

This is a broom.

A witch does not ride on the broom.

着物

This is kimono.

Kimono is a Japanese traditional costume. Today most women wear kimono mainly for social and ceremonial events such as weddings. They also wear kimono when performing certain traditional cultural arts.

The material and design of women's kimono differ with the season, occasion and the wearer's age.

The most informal kind of kimono is yukata. It is worn on summer evenings.

The most formal kimono for young ladies is furisode. It is a very colorful and expensive kimono. It is worn on ceremonial occasions.

帯

This is an obi or sash.

It is used to tie a kimono. Like kimono, the color and design of an obi differ with the season, the occasion and the age of the wearer.

The most important part of an obi is the knot made in the back. There are　many decorative ways of making a knot. This is a shape of a butterfly with the knot.

着物の着方

This is very important information when wearing kimono.

The left side of the kimono is lapped over the right in front.

The opposite is done only when dressing a body for burial.

井戸

This is a well.

People take water from a deep hole in the ground.

奇術箱

This is a trick box.

I will show you how it works. I put a coin in this box. I cover the box. When I uncover it, the coin has disappeared.

駄菓子屋

This is a Dagashiya. It is a cheap sweet shop.

This shop was in a tenement house. Children used to play together here.

人力車

This is a jinrikisha.

It is a man—pulled cart.　The driver exerts the energy to make it go.

It has a folding hood.

用心籠

This is a Yojin Kago. It is a basket used when a fire broke out.

Everyone put their valuables and loved objects in it and with that pole there, people shouldered and carried it out and hastily escaped from the burning place.

番傘

This is a Bangasa or a numbered umbrella. It is made of oiled paper pasted on a bamboo frame and so it is waterproof.

On rainy days, the master lent the umbrella to his customers as they entered the store. You will notice that the umbrella is numbered. It serves like a record as the master can easily see who has borrowed the umbrella and he can be sure to get it back.

鼻緒屋

This is a Hanao store. Hanao in English means the thongs of Geta or Japanese wooden footwear.

There were many Hanao and Geta makers in this region about 60 years ago. Nowadays they have changed their business to sandal makers or shoemakers because Geta are not as popular. Today, there are more people wearing sandals and shoes than Geta. The reason for this is that we don’t wear kimono as much so therefore we don’t wear Geta.

The purpose of these extended parts on Geta is to keep the kimono above the ground.

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