Trunk - toranku (English spelling)

A type of large travel bag. It was imported in the early Meiji period, and was called kawa bunko (leather bag), and was also called daishita (under the bed). It was named this because it was used to store clothes and other personal items and was placed under the bed. It was domestically produced from around 1879 (Meiji 12), and iron or galvanized iron-lined bags were made. It became popular as a clothes bag from around 1887, and was widely used as a travel bag. Cowhide was considered the best, and horse and pigskin were also used, but in the Taisho period, fiber, which was developed and imported as an insulating material, became popular because it was light and durable. As long-distance travel such as overseas travel became more popular, the demand for trunks increased, and the development of transportation such as airplanes changed the style of travel, and the materials used for trunks also shifted to lighter and stronger ones. Light metal trunks are also valued for their light weight, strength, and beauty. Large trunks are now used for sea voyages. The rear luggage compartment of a passenger car is also called a trunk.

[Tanaka Toshiko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

旅行用大形鞄(かばん)の一種。明治初期に輸入され、革文庫の文字をあて、別名を台下とよんだ。衣料や身の回りの品を入れ、寝台の下に置いたためこの名が出た。1879年（明治12）ごろから国産化され、鉄やトタン張りのものがつくられて、服入れとして87年ごろから流行し、旅行鞄といわれ広く使われた。牛皮を最高とし、馬や豚皮が用いられたが、大正時代になって絶縁材料として開発・輸入されたファイバーが、軽くてじょうぶとのことで普及した。外国旅行などの遠距離旅行が盛んになるにつれてトランクの需要も高まり、さらに飛行機などの交通機関の発達は、旅行の形式にも変化をきたし、トランクの材料も、軽くじょうぶなものに移行してきた。軽金属製のものもその軽量性とじょうぶさと美しさで重宝されている。大形トランクは今日では船旅用となっている。また乗用車の後部荷物入れもトランクと称する。

［田中俊子］

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