Gatekeeper - Kidoban

During the Edo period, guards were appointed to guard the gates of castle towns such as Edo, Kyoto, and Osaka to protect the peace and prevent arson. They were also commonly called Bantaro or Banta. They were responsible for opening and closing the large central gates, which were two and a half ken long and served as a checkpoint for people entering and exiting the town, and they also patrolled the town at night to watch for fires. The gates were kept open during the day, but in emergencies such as when criminals fled or there was a fight, they were closed to cut off traffic. The gates were customarily closed at 10 p.m., and after that people were allowed to enter and exit through the side gates on the left and right. In this case, a "sending clapper" was struck to notify the next gate of the presence of passersby. They did not have private homes, but lived with their families in a guardhouse next to the gates, and sold roasted sweets, cheap snacks, and other goods to supplement their wages from the town. They were also called guards at the gate entrances of theaters and other entertainment venues. The theater attendant used solicitous sales pitches to direct the flow of patrons.

[Fumio Inagaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸時代に城下町の治安を守り放火を防ぐ目的で、江戸・京都・大坂などの町に設けられた町木戸の番人。俗に番太郎、番太ともよばれた。町から町への出入りの関門の用をなす中央2間半の大木戸の開閉を受け持ち、夜間町内を巡視して火災の警戒にもあたった。木戸は昼間はあけておくが、犯罪人が逃げ込んだり、喧嘩(けんか)など非常の際は、閉鎖して交通を遮断した。午後10時には木戸を閉める決まりで、それ以後は左右のくぐり戸から出入りさせた。この場合は「送り拍子木」を打って、通行人の存在を次の木戸に知らせた。私宅は別になく、木戸の傍らの番小屋に家族とともに住み、町内からの給金の足しに、焼きいも、駄菓子、荒物などを並べて売った。ほかに、芝居など興行場の木戸口の番人もいう。興行場の番人は、客引きの口上をつかい、客の出入りをさばいた。

［稲垣史生］

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