Boater hat - kankanbou

A type of straw hat. Made from tightly woven, compressed and glued straw, it is characterized by its flat, plate-like shape at the top. There are various theories about the origin of the name, but there is no consensus, and it is a fitting name for a hat worn on scorching hot summer days. It became popular in Europe in the 19th century, when outdoor sports became popular, as a hat for both men and women to wear while boating, but in Japan it became popular from the middle of the Taisho period to the beginning of the Showa period as a formal summer hat for men only, and became a characteristic of the fashion of the time.

[Mitsusada Fukasaku]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

麦藁(むぎわら)帽子の一種。麦藁を堅く編み、圧縮し糊(のり)付けしたものでつくり、形は頭頂が平たく板状であるのが特徴。語源には諸説あって定説はないが、かんかん照りの夏の日に用いる帽子にふさわしい名称ではある。野外スポーツが盛んになったヨーロッパの19世紀に、ボート遊び用の男女の帽子として流行したが、日本では、男性だけの夏のフォーマルな帽子として大正時代なかばから昭和の初めにかけて普及し、このころの風俗的特徴となった。

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