Hikeshi

• Japanese:火消し(Hikeshi)

Firefighters in Edo period.

Hôsho Bikeshi

• Hôsho Bikeshi (奉書火消し) was established by Shogun Iemitsu in 1629.

Daimyô Bikeshi

• 1643, Iemitsu appointed 16 Daimyô to form firefighter units "Daimyô Bikeshi"(大名火消し). However the Hikeshi only worked for protecting Edo castle, Daimyô mansions and Samurai houses.

Jô Bikeshi

• Shogun Ietsuna ordered 4 Hatamoto to form firefighter units "Jô Bikeshi" (定火消し) after Great Meireki Fire in 1657. They set fire stations in Iidabashi, Ichigaya, Ochanomizu, and Kôjimachi. Two initial jô-bikeshi fire brigades later expanded to ten, overseen by the wwakadoshiyori, and based at firehouses arranged in an arc across the north and west of the city (the direction from which winds blew which were the most dangerous for spreading a fire to the castle).

Machi Bikeshi

• Shogun Yoshimune ordered Ooka Tadasuke to install Chônin's Hikeshi "Machi Bikeshi"(町火消し) in 1718. I-ro-ha 48 units and Honjo-Fukagawa 16 units were formed in 1720.

References

• Oedo Happyaku Yacho (大江戸八百八町) Tokyo Edo Museum.
• Tokyo Fire Department