History / Description A distinctive 20th-century Japanese fire brigade hanten from Japan, made from substantial woven cotton and displaying bold traditional firefighting insignia. The front bears the woven inscriptions “瀬戸田町消防団” (Setoda Town Fire Brigade) and “御寺分団団員”, giving the garment a strong connection to local Japanese firefighting culture. The dark indigo-grey cotton has a beautifully textured, robust weave, contrasted by white woven bands and vivid red edging. The reverse is dominated by a large circular emblem, creating a particularly powerful and graphic appearance when the garment is displayed open. The combination of functional construction, Japanese lettering, restrained colours and bold insignia gives this hanten considerable character as a piece of traditional Japanese workwear. Collector Appeal An appealing piece for collectors of Japanese textiles, traditional workwear and historical firefighting-related objects. Particularly attractive features include the large back emblem, clearly woven Japanese inscriptions, contrasting red trim and the pronounced texture of the cotton fabric. The signs of long use give the textile a rich, time-worn appearance that complements its utilitarian origins. It presents especially well as a wall-mounted textile or as part of a Japanese, folk-art or wabi-sabi inspired interior. Condition Fair condition with clear signs of age, wear and previous use. The garment shows fading, discoloration and staining, surface wear, small holes and areas of fabric damage. The fastening cords also show damage and breakage. These details have been photographed closely and are part of the garment's visibly aged character. The principal woven inscriptions, contrasting bands and large back emblem remain highly decorative and visually striking. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description. Specs Object: Japanese fire brigade hanten Inscriptions: 瀬戸田町消防団 / 御寺分団団員 Material: Cotton Period: 20th century Country of origin: Japan Colour: Dark indigo-grey with white and red details Yuki (centre back to sleeve end): approx. 69 cm Width: approx. 63 cm Length: approx. 82 cm Condition: Fair condition Shipping The hanten will be carefully folded, protected against moisture and securely packed for international shipment from Japan. Due to the nature of the textile, temporary folding creases may occur during transportation. Customs Duty Notice Import duties, VAT and other customs charges, if applicable, are not included in the purchase price or shipping cost. Such charges are the responsibility of the buyer and depend on the regulations of the destination country.