Sandwich man - Sandwich man (English spelling)

They are human advertisements that attract attention with their eccentric clothing and movements, with signs hanging from the front and back of their bodies like a sandwich, and some of them hold placards. They are said to have first appeared in New York in the 1820s, and were seen in Japan from the Meiji period, but after World War II, they appeared in Ginza, Tokyo, and spread to entertainment districts all over the country. In Ginza shortly after the war, they were particularly famous for those who imitated the clothing and mannerisms of comedian Charlie Chaplin, and those who wore well-tailored suits, which were rare at the time, and walked slowly with their eyes fixed straight ahead. There were many types of them, such as attracting attention with puppet-like movements or clown-like costumes, but they usually did not make any noise.

[Noh Sato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

体の前後にサンドイッチのように看板を下げ、奇抜な服装や動作で人目をひく人間広告で、プラカードを持った者もある。1820年代にニューヨークに出現したのが最初といわれ、日本では明治時代からみられたが、第二次世界大戦後、東京・銀座に現れてから全国の盛り場に普及した。大戦後まもないころの銀座では、喜劇俳優チャップリンの服装としぐさをまねたもの、当時としては珍しく仕立てのよいスーツを着こなし視線をまっすぐ前に向けたままゆっくり歩いていた者などとくに有名で、操り人形のような動きで人目をひいたり、ピエロの服装でおどけるなど多種多様であるが、声を出さないのが普通であった。

［佐藤農人］

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