Older brother/younger brother

...Its functions can be divided into three. The first was the transmission of skills, and when miners joined the Tomoko, they exchanged cups of sake between boss and subordinate, or elder brother and younger brother, and the subordinate and younger brother acquired skills from their boss and elder brother, and received protection in various ways in the communal life of the mine. The second was a function of self-governance, and depending on the number of years they had been in the Tomoko, they were given the status of Genro, Daiku, Shin Daiku, etc., and roles such as Hakomoto, Otoban, Toban-cho, and they managed all matters within the mine. ...

*Some of the terminology explanations that refer to "older brother" and "younger brother" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…その機能は三つに分けて考えることができる。第1は技能伝授で，友子に加入すると特定熟練坑夫との間に親分･子分，兄分･弟分等の杯のやりとりをし，子分，弟分は親分，兄分から技術を修得するとともに，鉱山の共同生活を行ううえでなにかと庇護を受けた。第2は自治機能で，友子に入ってからの年数による元老･大工･新大工等の身分と，箱元･大当番･当番頭等の役柄があり，鉱山内の諸事を取り仕切った。…

※「兄分・弟分」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報