Eight-spoke waterwheel tea towel

Yatsu Suisha (eight-spoke waterwheel crest) is also known as Hishakuguruma (ladle wheel crest). It is a crest shaped like a waterwheel. A waterwheel is a wheel turned by the power of water, and there are two types: one with boards attached to the spokes and one with ladles attached to the circumference. The crest is based on the latter type, which is called Hishakuguruma. However, in later generations, the ladle came to resemble a mallet in shape, and it was mistakenly called a mallet wheel. Some crest books list this name, claiming it was intentionally made to resemble a mallet. However, it is not a representation of a mallet... As noted in 'Kansei Chōshū Shoka Fu'... it is clearly written as 'waterwheel with eight ladles'. (from 'Nihon Monshōgaku' by Numata Raisuke). The name is based on 'Maruwakari Nihon no Kamon' by Niwa Mototsugu.