Sansuke

A common name for servants such as menials and small boys in the Edo period. Also written as sansuke. The "san" in this word comes from "suisan," meaning "cooking rice." As they were engaged in cooking rice and other chores, maids were also called "osan." Later, the term "sansuke" generally came to refer to servants at public baths, but this name is said to have been around since the Kyoho era (1716-1736). They were young people from the countryside who came to work as servants through connections such as those from the same hometown, and many of them were from Ecchu (Toyama Prefecture) and Echigo (Niigata Prefecture). During their apprenticeship, they would collect fuel such as firewood and old lumber during the day, and work as a shoe-washing attendant in the evening. After two or three years, they would work as a kettle fire attendant and go out to wash dishes, and were called sansuke. A special bucket was prepared for washing, and this bucket was used to wash the backs of bathers who paid the washing fee in addition to the bath fee. Even at the beginning of the Showa period, it usually took 10 years to become a full-fledged sansuke. After gaining this experience, one would become a banto (head attendant), who would also sit behind the counter in place of the master. It was common for a bather to learn the skills, save up some funds, and become independent and run a bathhouse around the age of 30.

[Fumio Inagaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸時代における下男、小者(こもの)など奉公人の通称。三介とも書く。この三は炊爨(すいさん)の「さん」の意である。飯炊きその他雑用に従事するからで、下女を「おさん」ともよぶ。その後、三助といえば一般に銭湯の下男をさすようになったが、このような呼称は享保(きょうほう)（1716～36）のころからといわれる。田舎(いなか)から同郷など縁故を頼って奉公する若者で、越中(えっちゅう)（富山県）、越後(えちご)（新潟県）の出身者が多かった。見習いの間は、昼は焚木(たきぎ)とか古材などの燃料になるものを集め、夕方からは下足番を勤める。2、3年して釜焚(かまた)き番をしながら流しに出るようになって三助とよばれる。流し専用の桶(おけ)を用意し、湯銭のほかに流し代を払った浴客の注文により、その専用桶を使って背中を流した。昭和の初めごろでも、一人前の三助になるには普通10年かかった。年季を積むと番頭になるが、番頭は主人のかわりに番台にも座る。技術を覚え、資金を蓄えて30歳前後に独立して銭湯の経営者になるのが普通とされていた。

［稲垣史生］

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