Many stunning examples of firemen’s coats (calledhikeshi banten) have survived from the nineteenth century.
The coats served many purposes.
The thick quilting would be soaked in water to protect firemen from the flames as they destroyed burning houses.
Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
This dangerous strategy of firefighting was necessary before modern hoses.
Critical to any city’s survival, firefighters were revered for their strength and bravery.
A coat could take weeks to create.
Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
The coat would then be dyed using thetsutsugakimethod.
This method uses rice paste, which is applied to the fabric and prevents the dye from adhering.
By repeat use, the method allows for the creation of intricate designs.
Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
In another, the hero Musashibo Benkei is attacked by a large carp.
The hero wounded the spider and sent him flying.
Scroll down to see some stunning examples of these firemen’s coats.
Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
These complex designs found on surviving 19th-century Japanese firemen coats were created by a dying process calledtsutsugaki.
The decorative side of a coat would be worn facing inwards while fighting fires.
Many coats depict legendary heroes from Japanese history.
Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
