🎎 Antique Japanese Fire Watch Clappers – Edo/Showa Period Sounding Wood | Japan Antique Roadshow

🎎 These are hyōshigi (拍子木), traditional Japanese wooden clappers used as tools of both function and drama. Crafted from solid hardwood, this hand-tied pair of clappers once rang through quiet village streets—often in the evenings—calling out fire safety warnings during a time when cooking fires and bath stoves were widespread household hazards. A fire-watchman would walk the neighborhood at dusk, rapping these clappers sharply while calling “Hi no yōjin!” (火の用心, “Beware of fire!”) to caution residents.

The pair is also associated with Japanese theater—particularly kabuki—where they signal the start of a play or punctuate dramatic action. These clappers have a powerful, percussive sound—resonant and distinct—and are a perfect embodiment of Japanese minimal design meeting utility and tradition.

This particular set likely dates to the mid-Showa period, although it could be older still. Weighing just under 700 grams, each piece measures approximately 33.5 cm in length, 4.5 cm in width, and 3.5 cm in thickness. They're connected by what appears to be a braided hemp cord, still strong and visually authentic. One of the blocks bears a natural crack—evidence of age and practical use—but remains fully functional and produces an excellent sound.

A rare and evocative artifact from the fabric of Japan's everyday and performance life. This piece is both a collector’s item and a conversation starter—rich in texture, history, and auditory charm.