logo

Traditional fire warning rhythm

Monday 30 December 2002

Jeremy Hedley, an Australian in Tokyo, has posted a sound clip on his blog. He writes:

During winter nights the traditional Japanese reminder to take care with fire and kerosene heaters and so on can be heard throughout the neighbourhood. The warning is produced by striking together two blocks of wood. Volunteers stroll around tapping out the rhythm — clack … clack … clackclack — which echos through the cold, a woodblock public service announcement. You can hear them streets away. Watch out for fires! Be careful with those heaters! Have a safe night, everyone.

Go to Jeremy’s site and listen. It carried me away to a different place and season.

If I had a sound recorder I would give you my summer night soundscape: Outside the kitchen window, flying foxes (Pteropus bats) stuffing themselves with mangos, backed by the white noise of cicadas.

filed under Me + Society

comment on this article by private email

Search marquis-kyle.com.au

Serendipity
Fire!
Fire scars in the desert
Fire at Mount Stromlo

Monthly archive
2022 J
2021 D A
2020 O A J J M A M F J
2019 D A J
2018 O S A J J M A M F J
2017 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2016 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2015 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2014 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2013 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2012 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2011 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2010 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2009 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2008 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2007 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2006 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2005 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2004 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2003 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2002 D N O S A J J M A M F J
2001 D N

Subject archive
Archaeology
Architecture
Collecting
Conservation
Design
Environment
Food
History
Lighthouses
Maps
Me
Photography
Prints
Ratbags
Reviews
Society
Technology
The web
This site
Tools
Typography
Words

About marking time

RSS

©
Contact me