JAPANESE SHOPPING LIST

Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library

JAPANESE SHOPPING LIST

The Japanese lady of the house writes out her shopping list for her maid. The maid does not take any money to the shops with her and all accounts are settled monthly. Date: 1930s

Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries

Media ID 20157783

© Bubblepunk

Accounts List Maid Money Monthly Ordering Settled Shopping Writes

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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph from the 1930s, a Japanese lady of the house sits at her table, meticulously writing out a shopping list for her maid. The maid, dressed in traditional Japanese attire, looks on attentively, ready to carry out her mistress's orders. The scene is one of quiet efficiency and orderly household management, common in Japanese homes of the time. The shopping list, written in elegant calligraphy, includes a variety of items that would have been commonly found in a Japanese household during the 1930s. Rice, soy sauce, miso paste, and other staples are listed alongside fresh vegetables and fish, all of which would have been procured from local markets or shops. What sets this scene apart from many others of its kind is the unique system of trade and service that was prevalent in Japanese households during this era. The maid, who is shown here without any money or purse, would have been trusted to settle all accounts with the shopkeepers on a monthly basis. This arrangement, known as "nodo kaihou" or "household accounting," was a common practice in Japan during the pre-war period. It was based on a system of trust and mutual respect between the household and its service providers, and was an essential aspect of the intricate web of social relationships that underpinned Japanese society. The photograph captures a moment of domestic tranquility and the enduring bond between the lady of the house and her trusted maid. It also offers a glimpse into the rich cultural traditions and practices that shaped Japanese life in the 1930s.

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