Re: Item Carry / Pouches or sleeves?

[chiiyo]

They used to carry in sleeves, but in the heydays people used a toggle, usually shaped like gourds. Later on the fashion was towards a toggle called netsuke, used together with a bead called ojime, which was attached to the obi...

I got this off one of my books, which has many pictures, but I don't actually know how they were used... I imagine they did something like hang a thread through the ojime, attached it to the netsuke, which then you hang many things... i don't know... they also carry medicine boxes (that are six-tiered... they look like chinese lunchboxes, the ones that stack) on their obi, amongst things like their wallets and tabacco stuff.

[Kiyoaki]

Zaphod,

The answer to your question is somewhat complicated. Depending on what was carried __ where it was kept could differ. These items, especially for men, were either showy or subdued (according to individual tastes). The wearing of such items only became commonplace in the Edo Period and was not otherwise restricted by sumptuary regulation, so this is one area where a man could display his wealth.

Both men and women traditionally carried sheets of blotting paper, which served as disposable handkerchiefs. Typically, they would fold them in half and slip the packet between the lapels at the front of the kimono [the left-over-right thing again]. Also, a folding fan (sensu) could also be tucked between the lapels in the same manner or into the front of the obi. A fixed, round fan (uchiwa) more conveniently had its' handle stuck in at the back.

Tobacco pipes (kiseru) were another popular item [both men and women smoked]. the bowls were very small and the stems straight and thin. They were usually slipped into a tubular case that had a fitted cover, which slid over the open end to close it. Men wore it suspended from the waist by means of a cord arrangement with a fob ('nestuke) that was drawn under the obi until it was exposed above and held by the upper edge of the obi itself. Women, on the other hand, might actually lodge the entire case between the obi and kimono. Because of the greater width of a woman's obi, this was done from the top, but the case was not pushed down entirely. The end was left exposed for retrieval.

Men might also wear a small leather wallet with attached cords and netsuke to secure them on his person. These held coins of various denominations. Often, instead of cords, small multiple chains and an oversized netsuke were employed to prevent easy theft. Otherwise, a man might slip his wallet into the inner sleeve of his juban, while a woman stuffed her's into the obi like the pipe case, or with her 'kleenex'. Her sleeves were open at the back, so they wouldn't hold her wallets in the same way as a man's.

A alternate item might be a case with multiple compartments called an 'inro'. Originally these contained a personal seal and a pad of ink for marking business documents. Later, these could contain pills and other medication (or both). Some were even modified to hold tobacco.

If a samurai wore a pair of swords on his person, these would be thrust through the obi and then secured in place with cords attached to the scabbard. Alternatively, he might just carry it in his hand (espcially the 'wakazashi' or shorter sword of the 'daisho' pair). A woman might carry a sheathed dagger (tanto) in her obi like a fan or pipe case.

Another possibilility, was a brush and ink combination. This was not frequently practiced because people could always borrow a setup, whenever they were in doors. However, in the field (making notes on the grain harvest, or surveying land for instance) they were necessary. The usually setup of compressed ink sticks and ink stone, plus water dropper to create liquid ink was too cumbersome for field work. The apparatus consisted of a covered ink well, with a flip top lid. Attached to the well was a cylindrical tube, which held the handle of the brush. This arrangement was normally hand-held, to preclude the ink leaking or spilling if left dangling from the obi.

For travelling, a canteen made from a dried, hollow gourd (hyotan) was commonly used. Even sake'-for-the road was carried this way, which made it the hip flask of its' day.

This list isn't exhaustive, but it covers perhaps better than 90% of the possibilities. It would have been cumbersome for anyone to try carrying/wearing all these items at once. For the most part, people restricted themselves to as few things as they could comfortably wear.

Kiyoaki

[chiiyo]

*choke* *splutter* HELP GANG??

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I think I'm flattered...

[Himiko]

I was wondering if some of the items which couldn't hang or fit in the sleeves or obi, would be wrapped in the furoshiki and carried by hand.

[Kiyoaki]

Dear Himiko,

In pre-Meiji Japan, most people went to public baths because the expense and space required for private ones was beyond most people. When they went, they took a change of clothes, their own bath towel, and a few accessories wrapped in a square cloth. The cloth became known as 'furo-shiki' ['furo' meaning bath]. After the bath they would change into the fresh set of clothing (the 'yukata', or bath kimono), fold and bundle their original clothing in the same furoshiki and carry it back with them.

It has since become the ubiquitous carryall for parcels, but is not very suitable for smaller, loose objects. Something like a lunch box, or file folders, or anything larger that palm size would be suitable. Small, odd-shaped accessories would be inconvenient because of the unwrapping and wrapping process at every turn.

Kiyoaki

[chiiyo]

These little pouches might even be chinese in origin, the way you describe them. I have something like that, and I use it to keep my change.

[chiiyo]

I can't be sure without actually seeing it, but I best guess is that it's chinese in origin. We use those kind og purses to hole yellow gold jewellery especially. My one is a commercially made one. Small and red with imprinted designs, the flap is triangular with a snap button.

[chiiyo]

Then it's most likely chinese in style but commercially made. Jewellers in Singapore give them free to hold gold in it.

[bawsin]

I own three michiyuki, and two of them include a "pocket" on the right side, over the abdomen, concealed underneath the left-over-right flap. How would this pocket typically be used? I've had trouble thinking of anything that wouldn't leave a telltale bulge. (Great for imitating Napoleon, however! )

Also, are michiyuki only worn by women? I don't recall any mention of men ever wearing them - in contradistinction to haori, for example. But perhaps I've missed something...

Julia

[Kiyoaki]

Julia,

Michiyuki-like garments were worn by some men. They were principally artist/painters [Tomioka Tessai, for one comes to mind], and the coats served as a smock to protect the kimono while working. Naturally they weren't as fashionable as the kind worn by women, but they still had the caracteristic knot closure at the right shoulder.

Kiyoaki

P.S. Inasmuch as men hardly wear kimono at all these days, the need for a smock by men is practically non-existent.

[Stephie]

Julia,

I have always found that the items in the pocket of my michiyuki are pretty well hidden. I have stashed my keys and other items in there trying to see just how much I could put into it before it did start to show. It almost seems like magic to me.

Maybe it has something to do with where the bottom of the pocket actually hangs?

Also, would it be considered bad form if it is a bit lumpy from items in your pocket? It may not look the best but considering the storage limits on the other garments...

Kiyoaki,

What knot at the shoulder? My michiyuki have ties at the waist but nothing at the shoulder, just snaps to close it in the front...

[Kiyoaki]

Stephie,

I've seen a few that had ornamental knots (like the Chinese frog knots), but whether they were always functional or decorative I can't say.

Kiyoaki