Matoi

{{Short description|Japanese fire alarm flag}}

{{For|the name|Matoi (name)}}

{{Expand Japanese|纏|date=March 2021}}

{{italic title}}

File:Edo-Tokyo Museum - votive picture depicting the firemen of the 'sen' group (1833) 01 - perspective corrected, lightened (15151927453).jpg]]

A {{nihongo||纏/まとい|matoi}} was a flag used in Edo period Japan by hikeshi firemen to notify people of a fire near or within a building.{{Cite web |title=纒（まとい） - 一社江戸消防記念会 |url=http://www.edosyoubou.jp/wearing.html |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=www.edosyoubou.jp |publisher=EDO Firemanship Preservation Association}} It was taken up on a roof near the burning building by the {{nihongo|{{Transliteration|ja|matoi}} holder|纏持|matoimochi}} and waved to draw the attention of other groups of firefighters, who would then hurry to the site of the fire to assist.{{Cite web |title=粋でいなせな木遣りで"火消し"を伝える－日本火消し保存会-English |url=https://www.nihonhikeshihozonkai.org/english/index.html |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=www.nihonhikeshihozonkai.org}}{{Cite web |last=toshidama |date=2013-07-22 |title=Matoi – Fire Standards of Edo |url=https://toshidama.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/matoi-fire-standards-of-edo/ |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=Toshidama Japanese Prints |language=en}} Each different group of firemen in the Edo period had their own {{Transliteration|ja|matoi}} to identify themselves.File:睦会 １.JPG, Tokyo, Japan]]In modern Japan, the {{Transliteration|ja|matoi}} is only used for ceremonial purposes, for example on New Year's firefighter event, {{ill|Dezomeshiki|ja|出初式}}. The Fire Museum (消防博物館 東京消防庁消防防災資料センター) of the Tokyo Fire Department has a large collection of replica matoi.{{Cite web |title=Results {{!}} Artifact Database {{!}} Fire Museum |url=https://jmapps.ne.jp/syobo2/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Fire Museum - Artifact Database |language=en}}