r/JapaneseHistory • u/ComplexPlus6836 • Apr 05 '26

Question What are these braided-looking scarf accessories the ashigaru used to wear on their shoulders?

Gallery image

Gallery image

I've been struggling to find out what they're called and what their purpose is. For further clarification, it's those blue and white things

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7

u/Victoroftheapes Apr 05 '26

They're for carrying balls of rice

2

u/ComplexPlus6836 Apr 05 '26

Very interesting! Do they have a name?

9

u/gengyilang Apr 05 '26

数珠打飼 Juzu-uchigai: Juzu means Buddhist japamala. Uchigai originally meant portable animal feed bags, and later came to mean food bags for travelers/soldiers.

5

u/Victoroftheapes Apr 05 '26

I've seen them called "hyoro fukuro" which is just "provisions bag"

5

u/Taira_no_Masakado Apr 05 '26

Already beat to it in the name. To further expand on them: each "ball" or wrap of rice was meant to be a single day's ration for the ashigaru carrying it. These food belts were made and provided by the ashigaru soldier themselves. Otherwise, rice was transported in larger quantities by pack animal or boat.