Vintage Mailbox and Shoiko Backpacks
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Historic Relics Next to the Watanabe Residence
Location: Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 12:06・2024/03/20
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
53 mm ISO 100 for 1/50 sec. at ƒ/6.3
Next to the former Watanabe Residence, a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, sits a quaint shed adorned with charming relics of the past – an older style mailbox and shoiko backpacks.
This particular design of mailbox traces its origins back to 1949, a time when the use of iron for casting durable mailboxes resumed to normal levels as critical materials became once again available for civilian use following the end of World War II.
Seventy-four years have passed since then, yet this particular style of mailbox can still be found in both rural areas and older neighborhoods in urban Japan.
Dating back to the Edo Period (1603-1867), two shoiko backpacks hang on the shed's wall. Crafted from hardwood and straw ropes, these vintage backpacks served as indispensable tools for farmers and their families. They were utilized for transporting charcoal, harvested crops, firewood, and rice bundles. Given the expectation for children to assist with chores, smaller shoiko backpacks tailored for youngsters were also commonplace.
Terms:
背負子 (shoiko): a vintage style of backpack; wooden rack with shoulder straps for carrying loads on one's back
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