Fire watchtower - Hinomiyagura

A watchtower is a tower that people climb constantly to be on fire alert, or to determine the direction and distance of the fire in the event of a fire. A half-bell is installed on the top of the tower, and it is struck to warn of a fire. For example, if the fire is far away, it is struck once at intervals, but if the fire is close, it is struck very rapidly. This fire watchtower was first installed in 1658 (the year after the Great Fire of Meireki). When the fire brigade (jobikeshi) was established under the direct control of the shogunate, a three-jo (about nine meters) high watchtower was built on the fire brigade's residence, and the fire watchman kept watch day and night, and sounded a drum to signal if he noticed a fire. In Edo, one was built for about every ten towns, and in other towns, there were places where only a ladder and a half-bell were attached to the roof of the watchman's hut. The name "fire watchtower" remained even after the Meiji period, but with the exception of the vigilantes' towers, fire stations in cities began to call them "watchtowers" as buildings became more modern. Nowadays, the surrounding buildings have become taller, and they are not used very often.

[Hiroko Katagiri]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

火事を警戒するために常時登ったり、火災のとき、出火場所の方向、距離などを見定めるために登る櫓。櫓上には半鐘が設置されており、これを打ち鳴らして火事を知らせる。たとえば、火元が遠い場合は一打ずつ間を置いて打ち、近火の場合にはきわめて急繁に打つ。この火の見櫓が最初に設置されたのは明暦(めいれき)の大火の翌年（1658）のことで、幕府直属の定火消(じょうびけし)が設けられた際、火消屋敷に高さ3丈（約9メートル）のものが建てられ、昼夜、火の番が見張り、出火を認めると太鼓で合図した。江戸では、およそ十か町に一か所建てられ、それ以外の町では、自身番小屋の屋上に、梯子(はしご)と半鐘を取り付けただけの所もあった。明治以降もこの火の見櫓の名称は残っていたが、自警団の櫓を除き、都市の消防署では建物の近代化に伴い、望楼とよぶようになった。現在では、周辺の建物が高層化し、実際にはあまり使われていない。

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