Antique Japanese Meiji Firemans Hat

This Japanese fireman’s hat from the Meiji period is an interesting piece of history. Traditional Japanese houses were made of wood, bamboo, and paper, and in crowded cities like the capital Edo (present day Tokyo), the houses were built with little or no space in between which made them prone to fires. Over the centuries Edo was ravaged by a series of great and devastating fires. The citizens called the fires “Edo no hana” or “flowers of Edo,” most of which broke out during the dry winter season when people heated their homes with charcoal. Edo (1615–1868) and Meiji (1868–1912) period Japanese firefighters were equipped with heavy, multi-layer indigo-dyed cotton (sashiko) jackets (hanten), sock-like footwear, gloves, trousers, and hats, such as this work, for their protection. The outfit was soaked in water before the firemen started their mission. Here, the part of the cap covering the top of the head is ornamented with kanji, while the colors suggest water and rain. The hat is displayed on a custom stand.