Matoi

{{Short description|Japanese fire alarm flag}} {{For|the name|Matoi (name)}} {{Expand Japanese|纏|date=March 2021}} {{italic title}} [[File:Edo-Tokyo Museum - votive picture depicting the firemen of the 'sen' group (1833) 01 - perspective corrected, lightened (15151927453).jpg|thumb|314x314px|1833 artwork depicting firefighters with {{Transliteration|ja|matoi}} and ladders, Edo-Tokyo Museum]] A {{nihongo||纏/まとい|'''matoi'''}} was a flag used in Edo period Japan by hikeshi firemen to notify people of a fire near or within a building.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=纒（まとい） - 一社江戸消防記念会 |url=http://www.edosyoubou.jp/wearing.html |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=www.edosyoubou.jp |publisher=EDO Firemanship Preservation Association}}</ref> It was taken up on a roof near the burning building by the {{nihongo|{{Transliteration|ja|matoi}} holder|纏持|matoimochi}} and waved to draw the attention of other groups of firefighters, who would then hurry to the site of the fire to assist.<ref>{{Cite web |title=粋でいなせな木遣りで"火消し"を伝える－日本火消し保存会-English |url=https://www.nihonhikeshihozonkai.org/english/index.html |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=www.nihonhikeshihozonkai.org}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=toshidama |date=2013-07-22 |title=Matoi – Fire Standards of Edo |url=https://toshidama.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/matoi-fire-standards-of-edo/ |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=Toshidama Japanese Prints |language=en}}</ref> Each different group of firemen in the Edo period had their own {{Transliteration|ja|matoi}} to identify themselves.<ref name=":1" />[[File:睦会１.JPG|thumb|315x315px|Members of the {{Transliteration|ja|Mutsu-kai}} group with {{Transliteration|ja|matoi}} in Ikegami, Tokyo, Japan]]In modern Japan, the {{Transliteration|ja|matoi}} is only used for ceremonial purposes,<ref name=":0" /> for example on New Year's firefighter event, {{ill|Dezomeshiki|ja|出初式}}. The ''Fire Museum'' (消防博物館東京消防庁消防防災資料センター) of the Tokyo Fire Department has a large collection of replica matoi.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Results {{!}} Artifact Database {{!}} Fire Museum |url=https://jmapps.ne.jp/syobo2/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Fire Museum - Artifact Database |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== * [http://www.nihonhikeshihozonkai.org/english/index.html Japan Hikeshi (Firemen) Preserving Foundation]

Category:Flags of Japan Category:Edo period Category:History of firefighting Category:Firefighting in Japan Category:Japanese words and phrases