Mellow-Denshokan Site English version - ?????

Mellow-Denshokan Site English version - ????? - Database for Things https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?cat_id=2 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:39:42 +0900 http://backend.userland.com/rss/ [A Living Ware] A Household Lamp Shade for Air Defense (by Anmitsu-hime) https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=203 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=203 &#12288;&#12288;&#12288;(folded)A dimout was issued from the beginning of the war in December 1941 to the end of the war in 1945, every day&#12288;from the sunset until the sunrise.The purpose of the dimout was to avoid attacks from the enemy planes, exti ... Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:25:15 +0900 Database for Things A Living Ware

　

　(folded)

A dimout was issued from the beginning of the war in December 1941 to the end of the war in 1945, every day　from the sunset until the sunrise.
The purpose of the dimout was to avoid attacks from the enemy planes, extinguishing or sheltering all light.

There were two kinds of the electric bulb for the dimout, for home-use and shop-use.
The home-use bulb was painted without the vase, so it can illuminate just downwards.
The bulb for shop-use was painted only on the half side of the bulb.

When the air alert warning sounded, at our houses, we covered the lamp shade with black cloth for not shining through.

　This household lamp shade, made of cardboard,
　can be folded in three stages. Usually we use this
　folded and in the case of sheltering lights we unfold
　it by removing hooks.

This lamp shade belongs to the proprietor of the Suikouen ryokan, a Japanese-style hotel which is located in the Sumata-kyo spa in Shizuoka Prefecture.
]]> [E. Manners & customs & songs etc.] We learnt HYAKUNIN-ISSHU while working in the fields ( by Awanokami) https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=178 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=178 We learnt HYAKUNIN-ISSHU "The Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets while working in the fieldsIn Showa 19 (1944), our family moved to our hometown of AWA (the old name of southern Chiba prefecture) for safety.In order to survive, we exchanged our familys ... Sun, 07 Aug 2005 15:27:38 +0900 Database for Things E. Manners & customs & songs etc.
In Showa 19 (1944), our family moved to our hometown of AWA (the old name of southern Chiba prefecture) for safety.
In order to survive, we exchanged our familys clothing for food, but when that was finished, there was no other way except to cultivate a small piece of land so as to obtain a little food.
As a city boy who had played on the pavements and not used to country life just until the day before, working in the fields was hard.
Particularly, at rice-planting season even children were needed as the work force.
At first, it felt unpleasant just going into the rice fields.
Soon, my lower body started hurting.

One day, my mother suddenly began to recite one of the HYAKUNIN-ISSHUs poems in the fields.
Then, we followed in a loud voice, and afterwards she explained its meaning.
Gradually, we began to get absorbed in these poems and almost forgot our aching bodies.
Local passers-by on the footpath between the rice fields looked at us dubiously.

My mother told us various stories associated with HYAKUNIN-ISSHU; like the discord between two typical Heian-period aristocratic poetesses,　MURASAKI SHIKIBU and SEISHO NAGON and the legend of the poetess ONONO-KOMACHI (famous for her beauty) .　We eagerly listened to her until sunset.

We looked forward to the coming of New Year's, as at that time, in the holidays, there were home parties and we could enjoy playing the HYAKUNIN-ISSHU game with our family and relatives.

The HYAKUNIN-ISSHU game was very difficult for us, because if you wanted to participate, you needed to learn all the hundred poems by heart.
In addition to that, there are poems which often look similar, so you have to be careful not to make mistakes.

Everyone in my family had a favorite poem.
I still remember some of them.

As my mother was born in Tokyo, she was brought up indulgently and might not have got along with the villagers and rural life.
For diversion, she recited the HYAKUNIN-ISSHU poems in the rice fields under people's cold glances.
I became sad when I considered such feelings my mother had.
Anyhow, my mother was accepted by the local people and spent the rest of her life there without ever returning to Tokyo.

Nowadays, for me HYAKUNIN-ISSHU is material for Japanese calligraphy and never to be used in a game.

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What is HYAKUNIN-ISSHU　

An anthology of Japanese couplets of 31 syllables, compiled by FUJIWARA TEIKA（1162-1241）(one of the Heian-period poets). He chose The Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets, among which were writings of Emperors, aristocrats and several Buddhist priests.
The themes of the poetry are mainly about birds and flowers and love, and these are very elegant.　

How to play the HYAKUNIN-ISSHU game

It is a kind of card game.
There are two kinds of cards for each poem.
One for the reciter (YOMIFUDA), on which the complete poem is written, together with the poet's portrait.
The other is for the player (TORIFUDA), on which only the last part of the poem is written.
And these cards are placed on the tatami separately and not piled together.

Then the reciter recites a poem one by one with characteristic portamento.
Players have to look for that particular card and pick it up as quickly as possible, as the one who can pick up the most, is the winner. This means that the players need to learn all the poems by heart.

Awanokami

]]> [E. Manners & customs & songs etc.] Re: A school's in-season farming vacation ( by Hamu) https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=175 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=175 I remember that there were farming in-season vacations when I was in elementary school.Since my family business was not farming, I would help my classmates farm. I did what I could as a child, but it seemed that I was after all almost playing.When they h ... Sat, 30 Jul 2005 12:52:29 +0900 Database for Things E. Manners & customs & songs etc.
Since my family business was not farming, I would help my classmates farm. I did what I could as a child, but it seemed that I was after all almost playing.

When they hung the bundles of rice on the rack to dry, I helped by carrying them.

I recall with nostalgia that in those days, there were horses in the farmhouse.

Asahidake
]]> [E. Manners & customs & songs etc.] A school's in-season farming vacation ( by Hamu) https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=174 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=174 When I was a schoolchild (Showa 23-32; 1948-57), there were special agricultural in-season vacations in southern Okayama Prefecture, in June and November every year, which lasted 3 or 4 days at a time. I think that this kind of vacation was carried out th ... Sat, 30 Jul 2005 12:47:16 +0900 Database for Things E. Manners & customs & songs etc.
I think that this kind of vacation was carried out throughout the whole country, even if there was some difference in time depending on the region.
In my hometown of Setouchi (Okayama prefecture), June is the rice-planting season　and November is harvest time.

In those days, most agricultural work was carried out manually, particularly rice planting and harvesting which required a lot of help.
Therefore, schools were closed, and children returned home as the labor force.

At that time, children were part of the respectable task force, who supported agriculture as their family business.

When I became a high school student, the system changed and these agricultural in-season vacations were not carried out automatically throughout the whole school, but given only on request.

Maybe you cant imagine but, at that time, in a school in a farming village, there were farming in-season vacations twice a year in addition to long spring, summer and winter vacations.

I don't know when this system started or how long it continued.
Probably, it was necessary at that time, because agricultural work fully depended on human power.

Hamu

]]> [B. High-tech products] Re: Mimeograph　 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=171 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=171 Hello, Marchan, I was really attracted to the issue of mimeograph.Quote:I heard from somewhere that the generation of 60's and 70's are the generation of mimeographs, and that the 50's and youngers are the generation of personal computer. I guess the memb ... Wed, 27 Jul 2005 02:34:09 +0900 Database for Things B. High-tech products
Quote:

I heard from somewhere that the generation of 60's and 70's are the generation of mimeographs, and that the 50's and youngers are the generation of personal computer. I guess the members of the mellow club, are living over the two generations, arent we?

We wrote on wax paper (stencil paper) by stylus, and used carbon sheet and a roller. Wasnt there a one for the brush pens?

What I remember was that I mixed the Indian ink(bokujyu) with a kind of chemical. And when I wrote with it, the very part where the letters were written on Japanese paper would turn white and then the afterwards, the process was very similar to ordinary mimeograph.

However the case, it was such a tiring job with a great loss of efforts.

Rifurei
]]> [B. High-tech products] Re: Before Word Processors and Copy Machines Appeared https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=170 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=170 Toshitsuru san, Good evening Thank you for your comment and I am really glad you visited us. Quote:I was worried when I was creating a draft proposal, and I was worried when I was struggling with the mimeograph, and because I couldnt think of anything el ... Wed, 27 Jul 2005 02:28:13 +0900 Database for Things B. High-tech products
Thank you for your comment and I am really glad you visited us.
Quote:

I was worried when I was creating a draft proposal, and I was worried when I was struggling with the mimeograph, and because I couldnt think of anything else but ink at the end, I was having a nightmare.

I assume you became a true expert in the work of mimeograph. It must have been a great pleasure when distributing the documents which so beautifully you have created.

Although it seems that the time of the mimeograph was not that long, our time could never have existed without it and we were truly relied on it: it was definitely an important piece of tools.

Karei

]]> [B. High-tech products] Re: Before Word Processors and Copy Machines Appeared https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=169 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=169 This is my first comment since I visited this site. But it really reminded me of the old high tech product and came in to see the pictures of mimeographs once again in my life.Karei san, thank you for your comment. If I would exaggerate, what I am today ... Wed, 27 Jul 2005 02:20:56 +0900 Database for Things B. High-tech products This is my first comment since I visited this site. But it really reminded me of the old high tech product and came in to see the pictures of mimeographs once again in my life.

Karei san, thank you for your comment. If I would exaggerate, what I am today and the pension I get now is because of the mimeograph.

I was worried when I was creating a draft proposal, and I was worried when I was struggling with the mimeograph, and because I couldnt think of anything else but ink at the end, I was having a nightmare.

Those were the days now nearly 60 years ago when we come to think of how we process documents by personal computers, make corrections easily, and print out so beautifully. We could never have imagined this.

I may bother someone with other bad dreams if I talk too much on this. Let me think about other old stories.
Thank you again.

Toshitsuru]]> [B. High-tech products] Re: Before Word Processors and Copy Machines Appeared https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=168 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=168 Toshitsuru san, Good eveningThank you for your comment. Sorry for my late response.I missed it. (^^;Quote:Using mimeograph as a tool, we did in fact received a salary which I like to that that old machine. I remember, though, that I had to rewrite the cor ... Tue, 26 Jul 2005 10:00:24 +0900 Database for Things B. High-tech products
Thank you for your comment. Sorry for my late response.
I missed it. (^^;

Quote:

Using mimeograph as a tool, we did in fact received a salary which I like to that that old machine. I remember, though, that I had to rewrite the correction, under the direction of my boss, over the original writings by stylus a number of times which tore the waxed stencil paper. The tore portion had spread out and the outcome was the printing in all black.

Huum, yea that was right. Once the correction was made on the stencil paper, the characters all became blurred. But then you were instructed to do it all over again a number of times and tore the paper?

Wao! And after finally getting it done and you were about to print it, you were black all over! Uuu! How miserable, I really sympathize you! You want to cry, but you cant! - I really understand that well.

Quote:

And because we had printed a large stack of printings to be distributed the next morning, we had to work over night on it. Such was the case with stencil paper is so was the Japanese rough writing paper. The hectic and even dreadful workload we had go through can perhaps only be understood by those who actually experienced the process. I even had nightmares.

I can picture you working all night almost alone getting all black in inkI would weep in sympathy with you.

And it come out even in your dream? You really had the recollections filled with ink! I must say I am sorry to bring this subject up which brought back your nightmares. (^_^;

I do think that it was not an easy tool to handle.

I only bought it for my hobby, and hardly used it.

Karei

]]> [B. High-tech products] Re: Before Word Processors and Copy Machines Appeared https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=167 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=167 This is my first comment here. Karei san, yes, now as an old retired man, I remember those good old mimeographs mentioned before in comment 4, 5, and 6 and remember that I really had troubles with them.Using mimeograph as a tool, we did in fact received a ... Tue, 26 Jul 2005 09:50:48 +0900 Database for Things B. High-tech products
Using mimeograph as a tool, we did in fact received a salary which I like to that that old machine. I remember, though, that I had to rewrite the correction, under the direction of my boss, over the original writings by stylus a number of times which tore the waxed stencil paper. The tore portion had spread out and the outcome was the printing in all black.

And because we had printed a large stack of printings to be distributed the next morning, we had to work over night on it. Such was the case with stencil paper is so was the Japanese rough writing paper. The hectic and even dreadful workload we had go through can perhaps only be understood by those who actually experienced the process. I even had nightmares.

Ah yes, and I remember that it was not so beautiful as it appears on these pictures but it was all black with ink, not only the machine itself bout our face, forehead and chin were all black and the work never finished without
getting all black .

Toshitsuru
]]> [B. High-tech products] Re: How did we make corrections https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=166 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=166 Karei sanQuote:Also, I think we also used the scraped candle and brought a light nearby and melted it to cover the mistakes. Ah yes! Thats right!. And I also remember that during junior high school days, one of the student actually did this and burned a ... Tue, 26 Jul 2005 09:43:33 +0900 Database for Things B. High-tech products
Quote:

Also, I think we also used the scraped candle and brought a light nearby and melted it to cover the mistakes.

Ah yes! Thats right!.

And I also remember that during junior high school days, one of the student actually did this and burned a stencil paper. Yes, I kind of remember that.

Marchan
]]> [B. High-tech products] Re: How did we make corrections https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=165 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=165 Marchan,Good morningQuote:By the way, how did we correct the mistakes when we were writing using a mimeograph? I remember there was a brownish colored correction liquid to white-out the mistakes. By dropping a liquid on to a mistaken character and wait un ... Tue, 26 Jul 2005 09:39:16 +0900 Database for Things B. High-tech products
Quote:

By the way, how did we correct the mistakes when we were writing using a mimeograph?

I remember there was a brownish colored correction liquid to white-out the mistakes. By dropping a liquid on to a mistaken character and wait until it dried out, a thin film was produced to cover the pierced paper so that you can rewrite on top it.

However, the characters became blurred a little bit and somewhat bolded.

Also, I think we also used the scraped candle and brought a light nearby and melted it to cover the mistakes.

Karei]]> [B. High-tech products] How did we make corrections https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=164 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=164 My all friends:By the way, how did we correct the mistakes when we were writing using a mimeograph? Marchan Tue, 26 Jul 2005 09:32:41 +0900 Database for Things B. High-tech products
By the way, how did we correct the mistakes when we were writing using a mimeograph?

Marchan]]> [B. High-tech products] Re: Color Printing by Mimeograph https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=163 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=163 Karei san,Quote:In fact, I also wanted to do it and bought a mimeograph. Woo, so you must have been "girl of illustration mania" from that time? Im impressed! Marchan Tue, 26 Jul 2005 09:27:43 +0900 Database for Things B. High-tech products
Quote:

In fact, I also wanted to do it and bought a mimeograph.

Woo, so you must have been "girl of illustration mania" from that time?

Im impressed!

Marchan

]]> [B. High-tech products] Re: Color Printing by Mimeograph https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=162 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=162 Karei san,Quote:The Japanese made mimeograph was invented by Niijiro Horii and his son. But it is said that Horii and his son developed a mimeograph based on Edisons model which was exhibited in the 1893 Expo. The domestic first production&#12288;came ou ... Tue, 26 Jul 2005 09:23:02 +0900 Database for Things B. High-tech products
Quote:

The Japanese made mimeograph was invented by Niijiro Horii and his son. But it is said that Horii and his son developed a mimeograph based on Edisons model which was exhibited in the 1893 Expo. The domestic first production　came out the next year.

I see, so it isnt really the perfect domestic product.

Quote:

The major difference between the Japanese one and the American one is in the stencil paper. Japanese stencil paper was a waxed Japanese paper. It seems that a strong stencil paper was required to write a Chinese character.

Uuum, yes, I can see that it must have been complicated to write old Chinese characters which have many number of strokes.

Quote:

I heard that the mimeograph is quite popular in Southeast Asian countries even today. I also read an article which said that the fluorescent light is　used instead of the rubber roller. A burned out fluorescent light is used　for other purpose!

Good idea! Using a fluorescent light tube!.

Since the parts supply and electricity reliability cant be expected in the developing countries, maybe mimeographs are more reliable than personal computers.

Thank you very much, it was really interesting.

Marchan

]]> [B. High-tech products] Re: Color Printing by Mimeograph https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=161 https://www2.mellow-club.org/densho_en/modules/d3forum/index.php?post_id=161 Hello YuuYuukan 21 san,Quote:I have various memories on mimeographs. Although I can't really put them all altogether in writing, I remember seeing one of those colored ones that was on the bbs of "the member lounge." Yes, color printing is possible on a m ... Tue, 26 Jul 2005 09:16:05 +0900 Database for Things B. High-tech products
Quote:

I have various memories on mimeographs. Although I can't really put them all altogether in writing, I remember seeing one of those colored ones that was on the bbs of "the member lounge."

Yes, color printing is possible on a mimeograph. It is a kind of lithograph.

In fact, I also wanted to do it and bought a mimeograph.

However, the way to produce it is like, using an ordinary offset printing; red, blue, and the stencil paper of the 3rd edition for yellow are made, and it prints 3 times and piles up. If you want to have black colored letters, itll become the 4th edition.

But then I found out that experience, labor and intuition are required and steps were very complicated, and I soon gave up thinking I had no such talent..

Karei
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