Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

SURIBACHI & SURIKOGI

Date Range From

1930

Date Range To

1940

Materials

CERAMIC, WOOD

No. Pieces

2

Height

13.0

Diameter

30.9

Description

1. SURIBACHI. ABOVE DIMENSIONS. ROUND CLAY BOWL; HAS A BROWN GLAZE ON IT. INSIDE OF BOWL HAS TINY RIDGES IN IT, THAT GO VERTICALLY FROM NEAR TOP TO CENTER OF BOWL. PART OF EDGE OF BOWL IS FLATTENED TO FORM A POURING SPOUT. BOTTOM OF BOWL IS UNGLAZED; HAS 3 STAMPS ON IT IN A CIRCULAR SHAPE (ILLEGIBLE). 2. SURIKOGI. 35.2(L) X 3.1(D). UNFINISHED WOOD. ENDS ARE ROUNDED. SLIGHTLY TAPERED TOWARDS ONE END. THERE IS A STRIP OF FABRIC TAPE NEAR ONE END. A STAMP AT SAME END READS "MADE IN JAPAN". OPPOSITE END OF PIECE IS SLIGHTLY DARKER (STAINED).

Subjects

FOOD PROCESSING T&E

Historical Association

DOMESTIC

History

THE SURIBACHI IS A TRADITIONAL CERAMIC GRINDING BOWL. THE UNGLAZED AND RIDGED INTERIOR OF THE BOWL IS EFFICIENT FOR GRINDING SEEDS AND SPICES, AND FOR POUNDING OR BLENDING FOOD. THE SURIKOGI IS THE WOODEN PESTLE, THAT IS USUALLY MADE OF UNFINISHED CEDAR WOOD. THIS SURIBACHI WAS USED IN THE KTICHEN OF OTO KANASHIRO FOR OVER 50 YEARS. OTO IS REMEMBERED POUNDING MOCHI RICE TO CREATE MOCHI TREATS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS, SUCH AS NEW YEAR'S CELBRATION. BEFORE THE PURCHASE OF A MEAT GRINDER, OTO USED THE SURIBACHI TO GRIND SOYBEANS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING MISO (FERMENTED RICE AND SOYBEAN PASTE USED TO FLAVOR SOUP, RICE, AND OTHER DISHES). THE MODERN KITCHEN APPLIANCES, SUCH AS THE BLENDER, GRADUALLY REPLACED MUCH OF THE SURIBACHI'S USEFULNESS EXCEPT FOR MAKING SESAME PASTE OR FOR GRINDING SMALL QUANTITIES OF FOOD OR SPICES. OTO KANASHIRO (NEE SOKEI) WAS BORN IN 1906; SHE GREW UP ON A SUGAR CANE FARM IN YOMITON, OKINAWA. ON JULY 4, 1930 SHE MARRIED BOKUJIN KANASHIRO OF HARDIEVILLE, ALBERTA. BOKUJIN RETURNED TO HARDIEVILLE IN OCTOBER OF 1930, BUT OTO DID NOT RECEIVE IMMIGRATION CLEARANCE TO COME TO CANADA UNTIL MARCH OF 1933. SHE JOINED HER HUSBAND AND SETTLED IN THE OKINAWAN COMMUNITY OF HARDIEVILLE, THEN NUMBERING ABOUT 50 FAMILIES. WITH THE HELP OF HER SISTER-IN-LAW AND OTHER WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY SHE MASTERED THE SKILL OF BAKING BREAD, AND LEARNED THE UNFAMILIAR DOMESTIC WESTERN WAYS. BY 1935, IN THE MIDST OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THE NO. 6 COAL MINE IN HARDIEVILLE CEASED OPERATIONS AND BOKUJIN MOVED HIS NEW FAMILY TO OCEAN FALLS, BC TO FIND EMPLOYMENT. IN MARCH OF 1942, THE FAMILY WAS AGAIN UPROOTED WHEN ORDERED TO EVACUATE FROM THE WEST COAST. FAMILY AND FRIENDS WERE STILL IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA AND HELPED TO LESSEN THE HARDSHIPS OF TRANSITION TO THE SUGAR BEET FARMS. IN 1959, AFTER A NUMBER OF YEARS OF HARD WORK ON VARIOUS FARMS, THE KANASHIRO FAMILY SETTLED TO A HOME IN LETHBRIDGE. FOR FAMILY IMAGES, PLEASE SEE RELATED ARCHIVAL DONATION 20091011000. PHOTOCOPIES OF PHOTOS CAN BE FOUND AS PART OF THE P20060015001 DONATION'S PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20030003000

Acquisition Date

2003-05

Collection

Museum

Less detail