The works of Sakubei Yamamoto
Monochrome

Women at Coal Pits (Yama) in the Old Days #13 (Woman Helper Cutting Coal with a Pickax during Her Hewer's Absence)
1958 - 1963

Mukashi Yama no Onna #13 (Sakiyama ga Yasunda Toki Tsuruhashi o Furuu Onna)
[Women at Coal Pits (Yama) in the Old Days #13 (Woman Helper Cutting Coal with a Pickax during Her Hewer's Absence)]
20.5 x 29.0 cm Ink Painting

Some brave women helpers (atoyama) worked alone underground when their hewers (sakiyama: mostly a woman helper's husband) took a sudden day off. ("Working alone" was called kiridashi.) They were seen as so-called manly and unyielding women and worked far harder than amateur sakiyamas.

Lyrics of "Gotton Bushi" Song
Kunya-kunya otoko wa hanetobasareru,
noru ni norarenu hi no kuruma.

Soft and weak men will be ignored by her,
because she has a furious temper,
like a fiery vehicle that no man can ride.

Hige o hayashite kane no tsue tsuite.
"Kogashira-saan!" to iya "Oii" to nukasuu.
Dokkoi! Gotton!

The underground boss wears a mustache and walks with a metal stick.
He replies, "Yes?" when I call out, "Kogashra-saan (Boss)!"
Dokkoi! Gotton (Clang)! (Interjected chants)


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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