Pit Workers in the Old Days # 17: Asagaoto Bonfire
1958 - 1963

Mukashi Yama no Hitobito # 17: Asagaoto
[Pit Workers in the Old Days # 17: Asagaoto Bonfire]
20.6 x 29.2 cm Ink Painting

This painting shows the bonfire called an asagaoto illuminating the dark night sky in the mid-Meiji era (1868-1912) when no electric lamps were available.
During the working time of the 2nd shift at night, also called an otsukata, miners did not need to use their personal lamps near their pit mouth, because bonfires burning lump coal were used as sources of light there.
The iron basket called an asagao (morning glory) in which coal was burned was 40 cm in diameter at the top and 30 cm in diameter at the bottom. It was 40 cm in height and had three 1-meter-long legs.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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