is a Japanese
banner
A banner can be a flag or another piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or another message. A flag whose design is the same as the shield in a coat of arms (but usually in a square or rectangular shape) is called a banner of arms. Als ...
. They are long, narrow flags, attached to a pole with a cross-rod to hold the fabric straight out and prevent it from furling around the rod; this way, the field is always visible and identifiable.
History of use
The ''nobori'' were significant on the battlefields of feudal Japan. The ''nobori'' of the time were used to denote units within an army; ''nobori'' became much more common in the
Sengoku period
The was a period in History of Japan, Japanese history of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 to 1615.
The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the Feudalism, feudal system of Japan under the ...
, in use alongside the earlier ''
hata-jirushi
' were the most common of war banners used on the medieval Japanese battlefield. The term can be translated to literally mean ''symbol flag'', ''marker banner'', or the like. Unlike the later ''nobori'', which were stiffened, these banners were s ...
''. Though usually used to represent different divisions within an army, ''nobori'' were sometimes made identical, so as to produce an impressive and intimidating display of warrior flags.
Today ''nobori'' are a common sight outside businesses, restaurants, and
retail store
Retail is the sale of goods and services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is sale to business or institutional customers. A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturers, directly or through a wholesaler, and t ...
s where they advertise a sale, a new product, and simply the name of the business. They are used during festivals and sports events; in sports they take the place of the banners and signs common among Western audiences. They are also used to make commercial announcements, appeal for something, and identify a political party during an election campaign. They may also line the walkways, fences or walls of
Shinto shrines
A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more '' kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion.
Overview
Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings.
The ''honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...
or
Buddhist temples
A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represen ...
and frequently bear the names of donors or deceased parishioners.
In recent years, ''nobori'' influenced flags are gaining popularity around the world.
See also
*
Koi Nobori – fish-shaped streamers flown on ''
Kodomo no Hi
is a public holiday in Japan which takes place annually on May 5 and is the final celebration in Golden Week. It is a day set aside to respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness. It was designated a national holiday by ...
'' (Children's Day)
*
Sashimono – small banners worn on the back of ''
ashigaru
were infantry employed by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The first known reference to ''ashigaru'' was in the 14th century, but it was during the Ashikaga shogunate (Muromachi period) that the use of ''ashigaru'' became prevalent by various ...
'' foot soldiers and
samurai
were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retainers of the '' daimyo'' (the great feudal landholders). They ...
*
Uma-jirushi – large heraldic banners of ''
daimyō
were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast, hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and nominall ...
s'' or
commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...
s
*
Umbul-umbul
Umbul-umbul, also called rérontek or, archaically, tunggul, are a type of flag or pennant made of a strip of cloth whose longer side is attached to a pole. They are used in the traditional culture of Java and Bali, Indonesia, where they are car ...
– slightly similar
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Gui ...
n vertical banner, common in
Java
Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mo ...
and
Bali
Bali () is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and ...
.
Gallery
File:Hyakken-taki-hudoson,百間滝不動尊の幟－P8161927.jpg, Nobori of Jinja
File:Yellow hat Sasayama store.jpg, A curved Nobori used to advertise a Cosmo petrol station
File:Banner AFHC 2008 conference.jpg, AFHC conference being held
File:Nobori, appealing goods.jpg, Appealing goods
Military communication in feudal Japan
Japanese heraldry
Samurai weapons and equipment
{{Japan-culture-stub