Introduction of Tairyo-bata, Fishing Boat Flags, Japanese Traditional Crafts Being Perfect for Gift. #1
What "Tairyo-bata" is?
Tairyo-bata is fishing boat flags wishing for safe sailing and a big catch and notifying it their family and the people concerned when fishing vessels return to the port.
Tairyo-bata is written as 大漁旗 in Japanese.
Tairyo means a big catch and bata stands for a flag.
How it is used in the past and present
It is said that the flags began to be used in Edo era and originally invite the god and joy for a big catch. And, those were used as means of communication among fishermen because there were no radio and mobile phone.
Thanks to the flags, people on a fishing port could prepare to land fish in advance and fisherman who could not get a catch unfortunately could negotiate with a fishing vessel displaying the flag to share fish.
Nowadays, they do not have to use the flags as transmission of information because of spread of those equipments. Therefore, it comes to be most common as use of raising the flags in a day worth celebrating such as ship launching ceremony and the first fishing day of the year. And also, it developed into a gift bringing good fortune from good news of a big catch.
Interviewed with craftsman of Tairyo-bata
Fortunately, I could meet an owner and craftsman of Iwakawa Hataten who make the flags and related handcraft goods at an event called "Tojiki Festa" which was held in Fukuoka prefecture last year. I asked him about his products, how those are made and so on.
The process of making Tairyo-bata
He taught me that there are less handcraft Tairyo-bata made in traditional ways now because of development of printing machine. In that situation, He and his family has been making the flags, banner flags of shrines and shop curtains in traditional ways which take times and efforts over 100 years.
I am glad if you will read an article below as well, which shares the processes of how Tairyo-bata is made with photos he allows me use if you are interested in it.
Good luck charms are drawn on Tairyo-bata
Basically, auspicious things are painted on Tairyo-bata. For example, sea bream, mount Fuji, sunrise, treasure ship, wave, and so on. Each has its own meaning, like sea bream is a famous symbol of auspicious because it called "Tai" in Japanese and the sounds is similar with "Medetai" (auspicious).
The design of the flags change depends on purpose and the customer needs.
Great gift for a very special day
Through an conversation with him and seeing his products for real with my own eyes, I came to think Tairyo-bata is great for a gift of …
The newborn baby
For example, there are baby's name in Kanji with treasure ship, sea beam, shrimp which is a symbol of long life, and waves showing overcome difficulties on the flag.
It often see a commemorative photo with a baby laying on the flag.
Please note that a finished product differ from the sample picture due to hand dying.
The promotion
Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and it is well known that the shape of from the top to the bottom are spreading out like an open fan, showing success and prosperity. Also, the sounds of "Fuji" has also meanings of safe and immortality in Japanese.
The opening new shop
A treasure ship shows a booming business. So it is perfect for opening new business and for making good atmosphere in a shop.
The retirement
The coming of age
The housewarming etc…
Your important persons must be happy for the one and only gift in the world!
You can order a custom made Tairyo-bata
You can order a custom made Tairyo-bata by Iwakawa Hataten online, but the website is only in Japanese.
I will happily help you if you need
So, if you need my help such as translation, please feel free to comment or DM me. I am so glad if I could help you and Japanese craftsmen because I would like to leave wonderful and genuine Japanese culture like Tairyo-bata made by Iwakawa Hataten in next 100 years. Your shopping is connected to keeping their business, and eventually protecting traditions.
I would appreciate it if you will read next article as well!
Thank you very much for reading this article through to the end!