Barrel shop - Okeya

A craftsman who produces barrels. In the past, they were called barrel knotters or barrel carpenters. A barrel is made by arranging thin cedar or sawara planks in a circle to form the sides, attaching a wooden bottom, and fastening them with a thin split bamboo hoop. They were commonly used in the 10th century as containers for daily life such as water barrels and miso barrels, as well as furnishings such as fire barrels and waist barrels (a type of seat). They became independent craftsmen in the 15th century, and barrels became a necessity for the common people as containers. From the 17th century, barrel makers, who were both manufacturers and sellers, were established as resident occupations, and they gathered in castle towns and other areas to form barrel makers' towns. Barrels were also made by these barrel makers, and some were sent out to repair barrels because the hoops often broke. Tools they used included mallets, saws, small knives, and levelers. When he went to work, he carried it in his toolbox along with a bamboo hoop. In recent years, demand has been eclipsed by newer materials for everyday use, and jobs have been decreasing.

[Motoo Endo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

桶を生産する職人。古くは桶結(おけゆい)師とか桶大工ともいわれた。桶はスギ・サワラの細長い板を円形に並べて側(かわ)とし、板底をつけ、細長い割竹の箍(たが)で締めた作り物で、日常生活の水桶、みそ桶などの容器、または火桶、腰桶（腰掛の一種）といった調度として、10世紀には一般にも使われていた。独立した職人となったのは15世紀のことで、容器として庶民生活の必需品となってきたし、17世紀からは、製造と販売を兼ねる居職(いじょく)の桶屋が成立し、城下町などでは集住して桶屋町をつくっていた。樽(たる)もこの桶屋のつくるもので、桶や樽は箍が壊れることが多いので、修理のための出職(でしょく)の者もいた。工具には木槌(きづち)、鋸(のこぎり)、小刀、ならしなどがあった。出職のときは道具箱に入れて竹の箍とともに携帯していた。近年は、新しい材料の生活用具に需要が奪われて、仕事は少なくなってきている。

［遠藤元男］

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