MINGEI - Kyushu - obake no Kinta

LINK
http://omamorifromjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/08/kumamoto-folk-toys.html

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obake no Kinta お化けの金太 Kinta the Ghost

- quote -
Obake no Kinta or Kinta the Ghost
is a folk toy that originated in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
The toy consists of a head with a string in the back of it. When the string is pulled, Kinta rolls his big round eyeballs and sticks out his tongue. A bamboo spring is concealed in his head which, when pulled, triggers the eyes and the tongue to move at the same time. Kinta with his red face and a black conical hat makes a striking impression on small children and he often scares them a little. He is a popular toy among adults, however.



The most important process in making this toy is the making of the bamboo spring. The quality of this spring determines the quality of the toy.
When Kato Kiyomasa built the Kumamoto Castle, there was a popular foot soldier named Kinta who had a funny face and who was good at making people laugh. He was affectionately called "Clown Kinta". The "Kinta the Ghost" toy was said to have been created during the Kanei era (1848 ~ 1853) by a doll maker, Hikoshichi Nishijinya 西陣屋彦七, who started making mechanical toys based on stories about Kinta.
Because of his unique action, Kinta the Ghost was also known as the Goggle-eyed Doll.
- source : nippon-kichi.jp -

guriguri me どんぐり目, 目くり出し人形 meguridashi ningyo - goggle-eyed doll


. Kato Kiyomasa 加藤清正 .
(1562 - 1611) Katoo Kiyomasa

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