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This item in great condition is a vintage indigo-dyed Japanese firefighter jacket, known as a hikeshi hanten. Constructed from thick, woven cotton with sashiko stitching for durability and heat resistance.
Measurements : Laid flat, from the end of one sleeve to the other sleeve - 50 inches. Top of collar to bottom of jacket 34 inches. It fits a men’s medium body nicely but I’m a men’s large and can still fit it. Stitching and fabric are both in excellent condition. This was made sometime between the 1920s and 1940s.
HISTORY: In Japan, “shobodan” are community-based public firefighting organizations that focus on fire prevention, fire extinguishing, disaster response, and public safety éducation. Reserved firefighters hold the status of local public servants while also serving as volunteers. This one was from a village called Tomioka somewhere in Japan as evidenced by the writing which calls out the fire station where the wearer worked.
In the Edo period, firefighter happi coats were worn by members of fire brigades during their duties. These coats not only indicated their affiliation but also helped protect the firefighters’ bodies. Made from thick cotton using the sashiko technique, they were highly absorbent, allowing them to hold more water than regular kimonos and making them less flammable. When a fire broke out, firefighters would pour water over their happi coats before engaging in firefighting activities.
Today, reserved firefighters continue to wear happi coats during their operations.
