Two-layer, long, rectangular back cushion woven from rice straw ("wara"). Layer worn against the back is tightly woven, with straight, unbraided "warps" and braided "wefts." Outer layer is more loosely woven; the warps along the left and right edges are unbraided and open. Pieces of faded blue and white plaid cotton rags attached along the vertical outer seam. Two layers are joined just below the shoulders with rice straw cord. Gift of Nago-san. length - 45", width - 15", thickness - 1
Donor:
Dai Williams, Estate of Karin Nelson, and Karin Nelson
Collection place:
Magata, Mishima, Onuma District
Culture or time period:
Japanese
Collector:
Dai Williams
Collection date:
July 1997
Materials:
Cotton (textile) (cotton rag) and Rice straw (wefts, warps, and cord)
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:
width 15 inches, depth 1 inches, and length 45 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.