Rickshaw - Jinrikisha

A general term for two-wheeled vehicles that carry people and are pulled by a rickshaw driver. It can also be written as "jinriki" (human power), abbreviated as "kuruma" (carriage). It was invented in 1869 (Meiji 2) by a joint effort between Izumi Yosuke, a former Fukuoka feudal lord, Suzuki Tokujiro, a greengrocer, and Takayama Kosuke, a rickshaw craftsman. Since opening in Tokyo in 1870, it has spread nationwide. In Tokyo alone, the number of vehicles has increased dramatically, from 11,040 in 1872 to 24,470 in 1876. Some were exported to Europe and Asian countries, where they became famous overseas as rickshaws. The body of the vehicle was improved many times through the efforts of Akiba Daisuke (first and second generation), but the basic structure consisting of the body (seat), wheels, steering rod, and hood has not changed. The body is the part where you sit, and is made of light and water-resistant sawara wood. There are armrests on both sides and a kickstand at the bottom front for passengers to place their feet on. The wheels were originally made of iron like carts, which made a rattling noise when pulled, but gradually they were replaced with rubber tires, and in 1912 (Meiji 45) they were improved to pneumatic rubber tires. The rudder was attached so that the rickshaw driver could pull it with his hand, and oak was preferred because it could withstand a considerable weight. The hood was attached to the body and was essential for protecting passengers from the rain and sun. Black satin was stretched over both sides and the front and back of the body, as well as the roof. When it rained, all of these were stretched over, but when it was fine, the side and front hoods could be removed. The rickshaw driver would place the passenger on the rickshaw with the rudder on the ground, then raise the rudder so that it was horizontal to the ground before pulling. This operation shifted the center of gravity, which was in front of the wheel axle, to a position slightly behind the axle, allowing the cart to be pulled with a lighter load. There were two ways of pulling: carrying the cart with one's arms or carrying a spear. The cart driver wore a zun-do (carp mouth) or haraate (belt guard), hakama (Japanese traditional hat), straw sandals or barefoot socks. In rainy weather, he wore a raincoat, and in snowy weather, he wore hand guards. Since the Meiji period, carts have been popular with people of all classes, replacing palanquins, and have been the mainstream form of transportation, until they lost their position as passenger cars became more widespread.

[Takeshi Amano]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

人を乗せ、車夫が引いて走る二輪車の総称。人力とも略称、俥(くるま)とも書く。1869年（明治2）、旧福岡藩士和泉(いずみ)要助、八百屋(やおや)鈴木徳次郎、車職高山幸助らが協力して発案。70年、東京で開業して以来、全国的に普及。東京だけで72年に1万1040台、76年には2万4470台と激増した。一部はヨーロッパやアジア諸国に輸出され、リキシャとよばれ海外でも名をはせた。車体は、秋葉大助（初代、2代）の苦心により改良が重ねられたが、胴(どう)（座席）、車輪、梶棒(かじぼう)、幌(ほろ)などから構成される基本は変わらなかった。胴は腰掛となる部分で、それには軽くて水に強いサワラ（椹）材が使用された。左右のわきに肘掛(ひじかけ)が、前方下部に乗客が足をのせる蹴込(けこみ)がつく。車輪は、当初荷車のようにカナワ（鉄輪）製で、引くとガラガラと音を立てたが、しだいに棒ゴムタイヤとなり、1912年（明治45）には空気入りゴムタイヤに改良された。梶棒は、車夫が手に握って引くため取り付けられたもので、かなりの重量に耐えられるよう、カシ（樫）材が好まれた。幌は胴に取り付けられ、乗客の雨よけ・日よけ用に不可欠なものとされた。胴の両側と前後および屋根に黒繻子(くろじゅす)を張った。雨降りには、これら全部を張り回したが、晴天時には横幌と前幌とを取り外せるようにしてある。車夫は、梶棒を地面につけた状態で人力車に乗客をのせ、梶棒を地面に水平になるようあげてから引く。この操作によって、車輪の心棒よりも前にあった重心が、心棒よりもやや後方に移動するわけで、いわゆるウシロニ（後荷）の軽い状態で引けるようくふうされていた。引き方には、抱え走り（ひっさげ走り）、槍持(やりもち)走りの別があり、車夫の装いは、ズン胴（鯉口(こいぐち)）または腹当(はらあて)を着け、股引(ももひき)をはき、饅頭笠(まんじゅうがさ)をかぶり、草鞋(わらじ)または跣足袋(はだしたび)を履いた。雨天には合羽(かっぱ)を、雪中には手甲(てっこう)をつけた。駕籠(かご)にかわって明治期以降、幅広く各層の人々に親しまれ、乗り物の主流を占めてきたが、乗用自動車の普及に伴ってその地位を譲るに至った。

［天野　武］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例