EDO STREET VENDOR

Edo (Tokyo) 17th-19th century

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SINGING VENDORS

Street vendors were known as botefuri, which derives from the words for stick (bo) and wave (furu). This gives some indication of how the botefuri got the attention of potential customers. The lyrical chanting of the vendors became a signature of the profession and was the soundtrack to life in the streets of Edo.

KASA

Edo street vendors could expect to be standing and walking through the hot summer streets all day, so a straw hat like this, called a kasa, was essential. Different shapes of hat could indicate someone's profession. For vendors, the conical sugegasa or rounded sandogasa offered the best protection.

YOKE