{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1803042"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1803042/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PH5907/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PH5907/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PH5907","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH5891","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH5910","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH5908","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH5909","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1803042/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1803042","accessionNumber":"FE.91-2025","objectType":"Firefighter's jacket","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This Japanese firefighter’s jacket (hikeshi-banten) bears the image of a firefighter’s standard (matoi), with the hiragana character ‘mo’. Each brigade had a different and distinctive matoi, which enabled identification and communication in the midst of a blaze. In 1720, the firefighting brigades established to oversee the western side of the Sumida River in Edo (Tokyo) were each identified by one of the characters of the Japanese syllabary. The 'Mo' brigade was responsible for the Ginza area. Today a major shopping district, Ginza was originally the site of a silver-coin mint (‘gin’ meaning ‘silver’ and ‘za’ guild) and the Mo brigade had a weight (fundō) represented in the design of their matoi. The scattered plaques that feature in the design of this garment also relate to the brigade and to firefighting.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Long jacket for a firefighter (hikeshi-banten) of indigo resist-dyed and quilted cotton. The garment is reversable, with one side being completely plain with the exception of a circular crest (mon) at the centre of the upper back bearing the hiragana (Japanese syllabary) character 'mo'. The other side bears the image of a firefighter’s standard (matoi), with the character ‘mo’, executed in a freehand paste-resist dyeing technique (tsutsugaki). Around the hem are plaques, bearing the characters for mogumi (Mo brigade), shōbō (firefighting), ponpu (pump) and matoi. The characters for Mo brigadealso appear on either side of the long collar at chest level. The whole garment, which is probably of two layers of fabric, is tightly quilted with indigo-dyed cotton thread, a technique known as sashiko. ","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cotton (textile)","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[{"text":"resist dyeing","id":"AAT53053"},{"text":"Quilting","id":"AAT53656"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cotton, resist-dyeing, quilting","categories":[{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Menswear","id":"THES49043"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2025PH5907","2025PH5891","2025PH5910","2025PH5908","2025PH5909"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES404740"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"jackets (short coats)","id":"THES398689"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1870-1900","earliest":"1870-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased by the Edwin Davies Fund","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"118.00","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Length from base of collar to hem","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"123.00","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Across the shoulders. from sleeve end to sleeve end ","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Devastating fires were commonplace in the wood-constructed towns of pre-20th century Japan. The capital of Edo (now Tokyo) was ravaged on a number of occasions and in 1720 a system of townsmen firefighters (machibikeshi) was created to protect the dwellings and lives of the city’s ordinary populace. It was extremely hazardous work, and the courage, strength and often reckless behaviour of firefighters made them popular local heroes. Firefighters wore jackets (hikeshi-banten) made from several layers of thick cotton quilted together with sashiko stitching, along with hood, trousers and gloves. Before tackling a blaze, they would be drenched in water to give protection from the flames, the quilting of the ensemble allowing for maximum absorption. Wearing this heavy outfit firefighters would use long poles to pull down buildings to prevent the fire from spreading. Jackets were reversible with the plainer side being worn while fighting a blaze, the more decorative side on civic and celebratory occasions. These distinctive jackets were not only functional, but a source of pride when worn during processions and other events. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Jacket for a firefighter (hikeshi-banten), resist-dyed and quilted cotton, Japan, 1870-1900","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["FE.91-2025"],"accessionNumberNum":"91","accessionNumberPrefix":"FE","accessionYear":2025,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-07-09","recordCreationDate":"2025-04-15","availableToBook":false}}