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364 Norimawashi Saodori, Yama No.1 Omekashi Otoko[Transport Man, the Number One Dresser in the Pit]

Sakubei Yamamoto1965-01

Tagawa City Coal Mining Historical Museum

Tagawa City Coal Mining Historical Museum
2734-1 Ita, Tagara City,Fukuoka, Japan

Please look at his picturesque costume.
It is said that some girls working at pits (yama) fell in love with men like him, being thrown into ecstasies at first sight.
The shown transport man wears a white band around his head with its knot behind to make his eyes slant upward. He also wears flashy suspenders contrasted strikingly with his new white underwear, pants with gaiters and Japanese socks (tabi) in the same dark blue color. A shiny brass lamp (kantera) with a glaring reflex plate called a terashi is held in his right hand.
Such transport men would jump lightly on running trains of mine cars like little birds and they looked glamorous and sophisticated to young girls.

Lyrics of “Gotton Bushi” Song at the Top Left
Washi no sama chan hako norimawashi,
norikata jozu de nao kawai.
Gotton!

My sama chan (sweetheart) is so good at riding mine cars
that my love for him grows and grows.
Gotton (Clang)! (Interjected chant)

Text at the Bottom Left
In pits with surases (guide rails and rollers), they did not ride on capels (kosumoto: the chain shown in the picture connecting the winch rope socket to the draw bar fixed between the base of the box and truck of the mine car), but rode on footholds between mine cars (ainori). They always rode on capels when empty mine cars were lowered, because ainori was dangerous.

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  • Title: 364 Norimawashi Saodori, Yama No.1 Omekashi Otoko[Transport Man, the Number One Dresser in the Pit]
  • Creator: Sakubei Yamamoto
  • Date Created: 1965-01
  • Location Created: Japan
  • Physical Dimensions: 38.3㎝x54.4㎝
  • Type: painting
  • Rights: (c)Yamamoto Family
  • Medium: Watercolors and Ink on drawing paper
  • Support: drawing paper
  • Depicted Location: Chikuho region,Japan
Tagawa City Coal Mining Historical Museum

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