Long and wide rectangular Japanese back cushion, or "senaka-ate," woven entirely from rice straw ("wara"). Parallel shoulder carrying straps are spaced 4" apart and 16" long, with two braided loops at their culmination. The cushion narrows slightly at the bottom. The weave pattern is uniform, with flat, horizontal bunched straw "warps" and straw cords acting as vertical braided "wefts"; the bunched straw "warps" wrap over the sides to form soft, rounded edges. Precise date and location of acquisition unknown. length - 51", width - 15.5", thickness - 0.5
Donor:
Dai Williams, Estate of Karin Nelson, and Karin Nelson
Collection place:
Japan
Culture or time period:
Japanese
Collector:
Dai Williams
Materials:
Rice straw
Object type:
ethnography
Function:
1.2 Gathering and 2.1 Daily Garb
Accession date:
March 20, 2012
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Dimensions:
depth 0.5 inches, length 51 inches, and weight 15.5 inches
Comment:
Senaka-ate" means "back protector" or "back support" in Japanese. It describes the mats worn while carrying raw agricultural materials over the shoulder as protection from wet, burdensome loads. The term "senaka-ate" is also used to describe a type of basket, known in Nagano and Yamanashi Prefectures as "neko," "ichiko," "doshoi," "shoiko," "sengo senakaate," and "nekoza." This heavy basket, worn on the back with shoulder carrying straps, served the dual function of carrying loads and protecting the back from heavy, awkward or angular loads.