May 13, 2010

Kurakata Dolls


This is a very grim and fierce looking doll on the display at Kurakata Ningyo (doll) store in Tokorozawa.

Kurakata Ningyo was started in 1830 by a farmer who made dolls as a side job. They have a long and interesting history of making traditional dolls, and includes events such as loosing their entire house in the big Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and receiving the Prime Minister's Award in 1985.

Seeing the display of dolls and learning about the many people who have maintained the traditional craftsmanship since the Edo Era was a very interesting experience. I hope I get to see more dolls during the festival seasons!

14 comments:

Boom Nisanart said...

Very beautiful doll but look like the real human being !

Tall Gary said...

The face is so lifelike.

At first I wondered if your photo was of a karakuri doll like we can see an example of in action here. After all, both the shop and those extraordinary mechanical dolls are from the Edo Period (1603 to 1868). But Kurakata’s dolls and (koi nobori wind socks) are beautiful enough without being mechanical.

Hilda said...

Oh wow, Kaori. I thought it was a person in costume! The craftsmanship is absolutely fantastic!

T. Becque said...

It's beautiful. I thought it was a person also! That's a lot of detail!

Leif Hagen said...

It reminds me of Kabuki theater - watashi wa kabuki daiski desu!

x_pEpPeRoNi_x said...

I agree with grim-looking!

There are so many different kinds of dolls in Japan~!

This one looks quite like the real thing.. i mean a real person.

x_pEpPeRoNi_x said...

kabuki! yes, I think it reminds me a little of that too.

Lois said...

What a beautiful costume! It looks very real.

arabesque said...

it does look very fierce indeed. ^0^
i appreciate how it looks like, but i'm havin second thoughts if i'd like to keep one as a collection.,,

Hannah said...

It's beautiful! I'd love to own that one! I don't mind it being fierce so much. The light colors makes it beautiful that way to me.

I think its history and of its creators makes it so much more valuable. You captured it beautifully, Kaori.

Louis la Vache said...

For a moment there, «Louis» thought you had posted a photo of his former father-in-law...

Anonymous said...

What an interesting and beautiful mean to measure time.

Please have a wonderful Friday.


daily athens

VP said...

Unusual craftmanship and really a superb doll!

Tussy said...

He looks so aggressive, but beautiful.

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