Umbilical cord - umbilical cord

Japanese: へその緒(臍の緒) - へそのお

A colloquial term for the umbilical cord. It connects the mother and fetus, and there are various customs regarding its handling. In the past, cutting the umbilical cord with metal objects was avoided, and instead, bamboo spatulas, reeds, or shells were used. A handful of the cord was tied tightly with hemp and cut. In Iwate Prefecture and other areas, the word "cut" is abhorrent, and the umbilical cord is called "tsugu." Tsuguing the umbilical cord means cutting it from the mother's body and allowing the baby to become independent as an individual, so a midwife who tsugus the umbilical cord holds great significance.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

臍帯（さいたい）の俗称。母体と胎児をつなぐものであり，これの扱いをめぐってはさまざまな習俗がみられる。へその緒は昔は金物で切ることを嫌い，竹のへらや葦･貝殻などを用いた。手一束（ていつそく）(ひと握り)のところを麻でかたくしばって切る。切るということばを忌んで，岩手県などではへその緒をツグという。へそをツグことは，母体から切り離して生児を一個の人間として独立させることなので，へそをツグ産婆(助産婦)は重い意味をもっていた。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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