Fireman’s Jacket with Gods of Wind and Thunder

The four panels of cloth that make up the inside of the back and sleeves of this thickly layered, quilted cotton jacket are decorated with an image of Fūjin, the god of wind, and Raijin, the god of thunder, climbing onto a bamboo scaffolding, similar to the ones Japanese firefighters used to fight fires. The two deities are traditionally represented as a pair, challenging one another. The dramatic impact of the scene is heightened by the arrangement of stylized rain clouds and lightning bolts around the two figures. The fierce image of gods and their association with rain accompanied the fireman onto the scene of a fire, inspiring courage in the wearer. In addition to the symbolic protection offered by the design, the jacket itself would have been worn soaked, as a way of creating a barrier between the firefighter and the blaze. This particular garment bears a signature on the front that reads “Muneyoshi hitsu” (painted/designed by Muneyoshi) as well as a crest, stitched below the back of the collar on the outside of the jacket.