“Botefuri”: The Street Vendors of Edo

A botefuri selling daikon radishes. The baskets of the vendor in the foreground are in the style of Kyoto and Osaka, which varies slightly in shape from those in Edo (seen in the background). From Morisada mankō (Morisada’s Sketches). (Courtesy the National Diet Library)

The clam seller’s yoke and baskets on display in a reconstructed room at the Fukagawa Edo Museum.

A tōfu vendor. From Morisada mankō (Morisada’s Sketches). (Courtesy the National Diet Library)

A seller of tokoroten (agar noodles). From Morisada mankō (Morisada’s Sketches). (Courtesy the National Diet Library)

Goldfish sellers. From Morisada mankō (Morisada’s Sketches). (Courtesy the National Diet Library)

Amezaiku artisans sculpted heated mizuame syrup into intricate shapes. From Morisada mankō (Morisada’s Sketches). (Courtesy the National Diet Library)

The chili pepper seller aimed to catch children’s attention, so that when they came their mothers would follow them and become potential customers. From Kinsei ryūkō akindo kyōka ezu (Illustrated Comic Poems on Popular Modern Merchants). (Courtesy the National Diet Library)