Yanagigouri (Traditional wicker trunk) (by Marchan)

This 110 year-old YANAGIGOURI: Traditional wicker trunk
is still in use in my daily life.

I use this as a laundry basket, regarding it as nothing special, but I know that this is one of my grandmother's household items, which she brought with her when she got married, because I found her maiden name on it. (Photo)

My grandmother was born in Tango (the old name of northern Kyoto prefecture) but went to Hidaka (northern part of Hyogo prefecture) to marry my grandfather.

As my mother is 99 years old now, I presume my grandmothers basket was made between 1880 - 1890. It is still firm and strong enough for daily use even though three women have been using it for all these years.

This basket was probably produced in Toyooka city, as it is located near both my mother's and grandmother's villages.

In that city, even now, wicker trunks are produced as traditional craftwork.

According to an advertisement at the place of production, KORIYANAGI; the material of those products (willow) can both absorb and prevent humidity and also deter insects.
Since these trunks are woven very tightly, rainwater apparently never gets in. The proof of this is that Toyooka is a place famous for rain.
Also smaller wicker cases are used as lunch boxes.
Food (boiled rice) in these containers doesnt go bad very quickly.

One of Toyooka citys craft shop sells many types of YANAGIGOURI on its website. I was very surprised to find one the same size as mine priced at 198,000 yen (about 2000 US$). However, if it can be used for another 110 years, I think it is rather a reasonable price, dont you?

Marchan

Hello Marchan, and everybody!
Quote:I thought that one must be in our house as well, and I pulled it out from a closet.This was part of my household effects, which I had brought to my husbands house when I got married. It seems to be not as good as yours, as it looks rather ordinary.

Although my trunk is not used very often, the hemp cloth around it has worn out due to our moving so frequently.

As this trunk had not been opened for ten or more years, I did not know what was in it---actually I found a lot of cloth in it when it was opened.

Karei

Hello Karei-san

I read your contribution concerning your "nostalgic" wicker trunk.

I recall that there were many wicker trunks in the closet in my house when I was a child, stacked tidily for each family member.

Also when I was appointed as a naval officer in Showa 19（1944）, wicker trunks were provided for both winter and summer use and each contained navy uniforms, underwear and so forth.
In the case of the navy, they were covered with canvas and very sturdy.

The lunch boxes in the navy were small wicker cases, too, probably in order to improve ventilation in summer and prevent food from going bad.
They were used even in winter, so the rice balls in the box were very cold; I remember eating them with shivering hands.

SCUPPER

Hello Marchan,

I was quite surprised that you are still using a 110 year-old YANAGIGOURI on a daily basis.

Every house had some of them in their closets in olden times, but nobody has one in my area now.

I can recollect two examples concerning YANAGIGOURI.

One time was when we were taking care of a baby, we used the lid upside down and put the small child inside, so that we could push it around like a sledge on the tatami-matted room.　

We were scolded since tatami wore out very quickly.

However, it is just as good as a cradle.

Another example was in our school days when we were returning home for summer or winter vacation, clothes were packed in them and sent to our homes.

Usually, hemp string was put around the trunk on the outside on its four sides, and tied tightly in a diamond shape on the top in order to keep the trunk from opening.
Two paper name-tags were attached to this string with thin wire, and we could send the trunk cheaply by train if we showed a railway ticket.
It was then put into the freight car on our passenger train.

The trunk was often so heavy that I had to carry it home on a bicycle, which was difficult as I couldnt steer very well because of its weight.

Pan