Pit Workers in the Old Days #10: Man Carrying a Mine Timber to His Coalface
1958 - 1963

Mukashi no Yamabito #10: Kiriha ni Koboku o Hakobu Otoko
[Pit Workers in the Old Days #10: Man Carrying a Mine Timber to His Coalface]
20.1 x 30.3 cm Ink Painting

Text at the Right End
In underground slopes, all mine props such as pillars or the legs of support units were stood so that the bigger ends supported the roofs. A pillar stood on its bigger end was called a saka-bashira (topside-up pillar) and was hated the most. Such a pillar was never used. A pillar without a kamisashi (wedge) on it was also hated and called a bozu-bashira. A topside-up pillar without a wedge (a bozu-bashira and saka-bashira) was also called a tanuki-bashira (raccoon dog pillar).

Text at the Top
Pine timber is strong.

Words Written above the Figures of Pillars (from Right to Left)
Saka-bashira: Topside-up Pillar [wedged pillar abnormally stood on its bigger end]

Tanuki-bashira: "Raccoon Dog" Pillar [pillar abnormally stood on its bigger end without a wedge]

Bozu-bashira: Unwedged Pillar [pillar stood without a wedge]

Masa-bashira: Normal Pillar [wedged pillar normally stood on its smaller end]

Masa-bashira (tombo): Normal Pillar (Dragonfly-like Pillar) [pillar normally stood with a lagging on its hollow top and it was also called a tombo or tombo-bashira for its resemblance to a toy dragonfly]

Ninawase: Prop and Strap System Frame

Tattoo on the Man's Back
(Probably) Kaiyo Koji: Strange and Suspicious Man [jokey posthumous Buddhist name]


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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