Narrow, rectangular back cushion, called "senaka-ate," woven from rice straw ("wara") and made in the same shape and style as the "bandori" back cushions of the Shōnai region of Yamagata Prefecture. Shoulder straps are horizontally braided with pieces of cotton rag interwoven with rice straw at their culmination; straps are attached to lower half of bandori via rice straw cord. Rounded, U-shaped bottom with narrow strands of straw forming an unwoven "cushion" where the bandori rests against the back. Outside or "front" of bandori consists of a horizontally plaited weave. length - 26", width - 8", thickness - 2.25
Donor:
Dai Williams, Estate of Karin Nelson, and Karin Nelson
Collection place:
Yamagata Prefecture, South Tohoku, Tohoku region
Culture or time period:
Japanese
Collector:
Dai Williams
Collection date:
November 1998
Materials:
Rice straw
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Cushions
Function:
1.2 Gathering and 2.1 Daily Garb
Accession date:
March 20, 2012
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Dimensions:
26 inches, 8 inches, and 2.25 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. The name "bandori" is a local dialect for "back protector" and is usually associated with Yamagata Prefecture, although they were also made in Fukushima, Niigata, and Nagano.