One serving - Ichininmae

A general term for the body, mind, skills, and abilities that a man or woman is expected to have after becoming an adult. It is sometimes used in various workplaces, sports, and entertainment to mean a vague average level of ability, but in village societies, a certain amount of labor was required to form a group of workers in ancient times, and a standard amount of work per person was often clearly defined. This standard amount was called ichinin-yaku (one person's share), iteyaku (one hand's share), wappaka-shigoto (a task performed by a person), and it was not uncommon for places to set a specific amount of work for men and women per day for each type of work, including farm work. For example, men were expected to do 1 tan (10 ares) for tilling rice fields, 1 4-ton bale (about 60 kilograms) for carrying loads, and 7 to 8 minutes for women half the amount of a man, 7 ridges (7 ares) for rice planting, and 1 tan (about 8.5 meters in whale scale) for weaving. Farm servants and apprentices to craftsmen were particularly expected to do strict amounts of work.

Also, the age at which a person came of age was sometimes determined, with most cases being 15 years old for boys and 13 years old for girls. This was the time when they would join the youth and daughter age groups and also celebrate coming-of-age ceremonies such as coming-of-age ceremonies and weddings. Once a person came of age, they were allowed to officially participate in festivals, village meetings, and village work as members of the village community, and were also eligible to marry.

[Takeda Dan]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1人の男や女が成人後に備えているはずとされる心身、技能、力量などの総称。各種の職場をはじめスポーツや芸能方面でも漠然と人並みの能力というほどの意味で用いられることもあるが、村落社会では古来共同労働を組むうえで一定以上の労働力が要請され、1人前の標準作業量をはっきりと設ける場合が多かった。その標準量を一人役(いちにんやく)、一手役(いってやく)、ワッパカ仕事などとよび、農作業をはじめ各種作業についていちいち男女別に1日どれだけと決めた所も珍しくない。たとえば、男は田打ちならば1反（10アール）、物を背負う力では四斗俵1俵（約60キログラム）、女は男の半人前から7、8分で、田植ならば7畝(せ)（7アール）、機(はた)織りでは1反（鯨尺で約8.5メートル）といったぐあいであった。農家の奉公人や職人の徒弟などにはその作業量がとくに厳しく求められた。

　また一人前を年齢で定める場合があり、男は数え年15歳、女は13歳とする例が多かった。これは、若者組、娘組の年齢集団に加入し、あわせて元服(げんぷく)祝、鉄漿(かね)付け祝など成年式をあげるころでもあった。一人前になれば、村落社会の一員として祭礼や村寄合、村仕事に正式に参加することが許され、また結婚の資格が与えられた。

［竹田　旦］

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