11 Apr 2016

MINGEI - Kumamoto prefecture

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


. Kumamoto Folk Toys

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Kumamoto Folk Art - 熊本県 




. Kumamon くまもん / くまモン Mascot from Kumamoto .


. Kiji-guruma きじ車 pheasant on wheels Kyushu
kiji uma きじ馬 pheasant horse


. Namazu 鯰 catfish legends and Mount Aso .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Amakusa town 天草 

. Amakusa tsuchi ningyoo 天草土人形 Amakusa Clay Dolls .

Tookooji 東向寺 Toko-Ji
The Three famous Suzuki after the rebellion
Shoosan, Shigenari, Shigetatsu 正三、重成、重辰
Suzuki Jinja 鈴木神社


..................................................................................................................................................................
Hachidai village 八代 

ikken hagoita 一間羽子板 very long battledore



Made and sold at the toy shop 大岡玩具店 Ooka in Hachidai village (next to Uto town). But now they are not made any more.
They are about 1.8 meter long and 1 cm thick.
They were painted with auspicious motives like the Sanbaso dance for the New Year.
These large battledores were given as presents to a family when a girl was born. When the girl had grown up to be the wife in another home, the wood was used to make a needle box or box for her sandals.

.......................................................................


Hinagu Hot Spring 日奈久温泉 in the bay of Hachidai

okin jo ningyoo, O-Kin おきん女人形 / おきん女人形 The Girl O-Kin

O-Kin was a beautiful girl working at the Hot Spring, about 200 years ago.
The doll is made from the wood of the paulownia 桐. Its arms and legs are fixed to the main body with stark-red cotton strings and cloth and can be moved.
On the bib painted on the brest are flower patterns.
They come in many sizes.
This simple doll was used by girls to play "mother and child".



The doll is also called penta ningyoo, benta ningyoo ぺんた人形 / 弁太人形 / べんたにんぎょう - Benta Doll
べんた人形
The name Benta derives from the name of the original creator of this doll "Benta" during the Bunsei period (1818-1830). He was said to be a Korean immigrant using remnant Kiri wood material from Geta clog production as most of the folk toys from Hinagu were made. Hinagu is known for its Geta production because many good quality Kiri trees grow in this area.
The doll is also called the "Okin-jyo" doll modeled after a girl from a nearby fishing village who helped to find a hot spring with Rokurouzaemon. He was a son of Hamada Ukon, a very important warrior for the Kumamoto lord. When Ukon was injured during a battle, his son Rokurouzaemon came to pray at Ichikishima Shinto Shrine to find a healing hot spring for his father and with the help from Okin, he finally found the present day Hinagu hot spring. It used to be a custom to buy this Benta doll at the Hinagu festival.

The original Benta dolls are simple wooden doll without limbs just like the Kokeshi dolls but the arms and legs were added in the mid-Meiji period (1868-1912). The condition of this piece is very good and her age is from the 1960's.
- source : www.worthpoint.com -

.......................................................................



ita sumoo 板相撲 sumo wrestling on a bord
. Sumo 相撲  Sumo wrestling dolls .


kiji uma きじ馬 pheasant horse, pheasant on wheels


..................................................................................................................................................................
Hitoyoshi town 人吉市

hanatebako, hana tebako 花手箱 box with flowers
mostly camellia

The boxes are made from cedar wood, covered with strong washi paper and then painted with stark red camellia blossoms and green leaves. The edges are black. Other boxes have chrysanthemums for decoration.
They were sold at local markets and Shrine fairs.

Kijiuma are wheeled-bird toys, hanatebako are camellia-motif boxes, and hagoita are wooden paddles for Japanese badminton.



These traditional toys were born out of tragedy about 800 years ago. After the Heike clan was run out of power and all but wiped out in the 12th century, a group of survivors escaped to the Kuma region, where they continued to hide in exile. With their simple but vivid colors, these playthings were originally made out of a longing for the clan's glory days.
Today, they are treated more as traditional decorations rather than recreational articles.
- source : kumanago.jp/en -



CLICK for more photos !

hana tekago 花手籠 / 花手箱 flower box
and hagoita 羽子板、battledore
The batteldore also features flowers and tsubak icamellia blossoms.
Made by 池口真人(まさと) Ikeguchi Masato san.
熊本市龍田町上立田391




. Hagoita 羽子板 Battledore, Shuttlecock .

.......................................................................



kiji uma きじ馬 / kiji kuruma 雉子車 pheasant horse
uzuraguruma うずら車 quail on wheels

.......................................................................

shunnamejo しゅんなめじょ Shunnamejo

しゅん=春 shun is for spring
なめ=男女 name is for male and female
じょ=愛称の接尾語 jo is a pleasent word ending

decoration for the New Year, to pray for a good harvest and good luck.

Made from a stick of the paper mulberry tree (koozo 楮) in the simple form with a human face.



This simple doll is then decorated with paper robes for male and female forms.
A stand is made from a straw barrel with four legs.



The dolls and some flower imitations of mochi rice are stuck into the straw.
The more human figures a family decorated, the more hands there would be during the harvest time to help with the farm work.
This decoration was made by all farming families and put up in the tokonoma alcove for decoration during the New Year holidays.

- source : www.pe-toru.or.jp -


CLICK for more photos !

.......................................................................

unsun karuta ウンスンかるた Unsun card game



- quote -
Unsun Karuta is a card game, based on the western deck of playing cards, that was first brought to Japan by a Portuguese sailor.
During the Tenshou Era (1573 ~1591), the very first copy of western-style playing cards was made in Japan. These cards, made in Mitsuike, Oomuta City, Fukuoka, came to be known as Tenshou Karuta. In the Edo period, they were developed further and Unsui Karuta was born.
While Tenshou Karuta had 48 cards, Unsun Karuta has 75 cards and more complicated rules. The name, Unsun, is said to have derived from the Portuguese words for the number one – "un" and the best – "sun".
As Unsun Karuta gained popularity, the gambling potential of the game became so popular that, in the middle of the Edo period, it was banned. Unsun Karuta was believed to have entirely disappeared until it was discovered that the people of the Hitoyoshi region in Kumamoto had been enjoying the game all along.
- source : nippon-kichi.jp -


. Karuta, Uta Karuta 歌留多 Japanese playing cards .

..................................................................................................................................................................
Ichinomiya, ichi no miya 一の宮

tookibi ningyoo とうきび人形 dolls from corn
made from the skin of tomorokoshi とうもろこしの皮 corn and other parts of local plants.
They are usually 5 to 10 cm high.



. . . CLICK here for Photos !


..................................................................................................................................................................
Konoha town 木葉

Konoha saru 木の葉猿 monkey from Konoha


meshikui zaru 飯喰猿 monkey eating rice balls

These monkeys are all hand-twisted and thus all have an individual touch.
In the year 723 the tradition started with a monkey as the messenger from the deity.
Now they are well-loved amulets to ward off evil and disaster, prevent illness and keep a happy family.


source : niconiconico

The original kiln in Konoha has 15 different types of monkeys.
The name of the village was then written like this, meaning
tooth of a tiger 虎の歯 (このは)
where refugees from the capital lived. One of them had a dream sent from the deity of Kasuga Daimyoojin 春日大明神 to use the clay of the local mountain and make the monkeys as his messengers.

木の葉猿窯元 Konoha Kiln
〒869-0303 熊本県玉名郡玉東町木葉60


..................................................................................................................................................................
Kumamoto town 熊本市

. Kumamon くまもん / くまモン Kumamon Daruma くまモンだるま .

人吉の羽子板と花手箱



Kumamon is also featured on the Flower Boxes and Battledore from Hitoyoshi.

.......................................................................


青井阿蘇神社の獅子頭 Aoi Aso Jinja - Lion Head



18 Kamiaoimachi, Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto
- source : www.aoisan.jp -

.......................................................................


Higo chonkakegoma 肥後ちょんかけごま flying spinning top from Higo
Chon'kake Goma - chonkake koma - Higo Chonkake Goma


This spinning top originates in Indonesia. It was introduced first in Kumamoto about 400 years ago. It is a bit bigger in diameter than other Japanese spinning tops.



The rope is wound around the metal center pin and then the top is thrown into the air and caught with the rope, moved along the cord and thrown into the air again. It is about 11 cm in diameter and like a flat plate, decorated with thin rings in black, green or yellow color.
Made from the wood of sarusuberi (Crape myrtle) or tsubaki (camellia tree).


ちょんかけごま / 山本貞美 Yamamoto Sadami


. koma 独楽 spinning tops from Japan .

.......................................................................


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 -

donguri me どんぐり目, 目くり出し人形 mekuridashi ningyoo - goggle-eyed doll


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

.......................................................................

uso 手取り神社のうそ carved bullfinch from Tedori Jinja
. usokae うそ替え exchanging carved bullfinches

.......................................................................

Kumamoto ittobori くまもと一刀彫  wood carvings with one blade





from Gingko biloba wood 銀杏, since 1947.
made by Murakami san 村上一光 and others.
- source : nippon-kichi.jp -

..............................................................................................................................................

- quote -
Higo temari 肥後てまり 
Temari is a traditional Japanese thread ball that was used as a toy ball for children. While playing with the ball, children used to sing a temari song. The most loved of these temari songs was "Antagata dokosa" which came from Higo Temari, traditionally from Kumamoto Prefecture.



Higo Temari, whose beauty is characterized by bright colors and biometric patterns, was first made by the court ladies working in their clan's palace in Edo, Tokyo, as a pastime. This skill was eventually passed down to their local regions.

Higo Temari, which was traditionally made by local women in Higo region, began disappearing as rubber balls took over the market in the middle of Meiji period. In 1968, Higo Temari Club was founded and began formally preserving the temari making method.
The core of a temari ball is formed with dried sponge cucumber which was cut at an angle. Thin yarn is wrapped over the core, and then thread is randomly wrapped around the outside of the ball which produces a cushioned surface and helps create a perfect spherical shape.
French Embroidery threads are applied to decorate the surface which creates superb color schemes and a rich variety in designs.
The Higo Temari song mentions a place called "senba", which is on the bank of Tsuboi River that was once abundant with small shrimps. Mt. Senba nearby was once inhabited by raccoon dogs and the surrounding area was said to be a dense grove and bamboo thicket.

14-11-201 Minamisendanbata Town, Kumamoto,
- source : nippon-kichi.jp -

あんたがたどこさ 
肥後さ
肥後どこさ 
熊本さ
熊本どこさ 
せんばさ
せんば山には 
狸がおってさ
それを猟師が 
鉄砲でうってさ
煮てさ 焼いてさ 
食ってさ
それを木の葉で 
チョイトかくせ

Where are you from?
From Higo
Where in Higo?
From Kumamoto
Where in Kumamoto?
From Senba
In the mountains of Senba
There is a raccoon
It was shot with a gun by a hunter
Who cooked it
Then roasted it
And ate it,
With leaves from a tree
He covered it.

source : www.mamalisa.com


. temari 手まり、手毬 thread ball .

..................................................................................................................................................................
Noboritate town 登立

Noboritate Tenmangu no uso 登立天満宮のうそ
carved bullfinch from the Tenmangu shrine
. usokae うそ替え exchanging carved bullfinches


. Shishigashira 獅子頭 lion head mask .
from shrine Aoi Aso Jinja 青井阿蘇神社


..................................................................................................................................................................
Oohatamachi Oohata village 大畑町 Ohata

木製玩具 wooden toys of animals
(きじ馬。弾き猿。跳ね猿。担い猿)

..................................................................................................................................................................
Uto town 宇土市

. Uto hariko 宇土張り子 papermachee dolls from Uto . -



Hime Daruma 宇土の姫達磨 princess Daruma from Uto


..................................................................................................................................................................
Yamaga town 山鹿

Yamaga choochin 山鹿灯籠 lantern, Yamaga Lighted Lanterns


These lanterns are made solely of paper and are said to be the acme of paper craft. They were originally for festival use, but recently they have become popular as souvenirs.


. Yamaga Tooroo Matsuri 山鹿灯籠まつり
Yamaga Lantern Festival .



.................................................................................

Yatsushiro region  八代地方 

. Hikoichi don from Kumamoto 熊本の彦一  .
Hikoichi koma (Hiko-Ichi) 彦一独楽 spinning top - koma


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Reference and Photos . Gangu Guide .
. Reference and Photos . Isamu Folk Toys .
. Reference and Photos . Yama no Ie . Folk Toys .

Traditional Crafts
Higo lnlay
Yamaga Lighted Lanterns
Higo Spinning Tops
Kawashiri Knives
source : www.k-faz.co.jp


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. WASHOKU . Regional Dishes from Japan

MORE
. Kumamoto Folk Toys - this BLOG .


. Japan after the BIG earthquake March 11, 2011


[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
- #kumamoto #kyushukumamoto #amakusa -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

MINGEI - Nagasaki

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

. Nagasaki Folk Toys

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Nagasaki Folk Art 長崎県




Shimabara (島原市, Shimabara-shi)
is a city located on the north-eastern tip of the Shimabara Peninsula, facing Ariake Bay in the east and Mount Unzen (including Fugendake) in the west, in Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan.
Shimabara is a castle town, and was the capital of Shimabara Domain during the Edo period. It was the site of considerable foreign trade and missionary activity during the late Muromachi period, and in the early Edo period, a large percentage of the population were Kirishitan, Christians.

. Shimabara and Amakusa clay dolls 天草土人形 .
Kumamoto

under construction
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Shimabara Wakimizukan しまばら湧水館 Museum for spring water
wakimizu, fresh water welling out from the mountains.



Look at more photos of the clear water from Shimabara :
source : susono.jugem.jp


こんなにうまい水があふれている
konna ni umai mizu ga afurete iru

such delicious water is overflowing here

. Taneda Santoka (Taneda Santooka) 種田山頭火 .

He has written quite a lot of haiku about fresh water during his travels.
source : Santoka in Kumamoto


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fukue town 福江市
Goto Retto 五島列島 Goto island chain



baramondako, baramon tako バラモン凧 Baramon kite
Gotoo Baramon tako 五島バラモン凧

バラモン凧は五島に古くから伝わる大凧の名称です。
バラモンとは「活発な、元気のいい」という意味で、絵には鬼に立ち向かう武士の兜の後ろ姿が描かれています - 凧作りの第一人者である野原権太郎先生


hinodezuru hinode tsuru 日出鶴 kite with a crane
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

..................................................................................................................................................................
Hirado town 平戸 

kintoki yoochoo 金時凧 / 金時ようちょう kite with Kintoki

Kintoki (Kintaro) is a famous hero and there are various kites with his face. This one from Hirado.
His face is all red to express his strength.
His big round eyes are specially made to change from golden to silver as the kite moves in the sky.



. Kintaro 金太郎 "The Golden Boy" Kintoki 金時 .
源頼光と坂田金時 Minamoto Yorimitsu "Raiko" and Sakata Kintoki

.......................................................................

. konaki sumoo 子泣き相撲  Sumo wrestling dolls of children .
.......................................................................

maki ningyoo まき人形 / マキ人形 Maki dolls



Made by 篠屋(ささや) Sasaya, 平戸市崎方町842-1 - 平戸マキ人形
- reference : pref.nagasaki.jp/koho/plaza -

.......................................................................

shita dashi saru 舌出し猿 monkey showing his tongue


CLICK for more photos !

Through its long contact with the outside world during the Edo period, Hirado has developed a pottery tradition of its own.
One is the monkey sticking out his tongue, a kind of Sanbaso dancing monkey, with the head moving and the tongue coming in and out.


- quote -
"Tanemaki Sanbasô"
is one of many sanbasô musical dances. Originally sanbasô was derived from a Nô play called "Okina", a very sacred ceremonial play. This spirit has been foremost among plays. A sanbasô serves as a special dramatization to celebrate a special anniversary or a shûmei. When the curtain rises two performers come on the stage, deified beings in the form of men--a man in his heyday (Senzai) and a holy performer (Sanbasô). The two are considered to represent longevity and happiness. They dance solo and as a duet in commemoration of this lucky day and lucky people (including the audience). They thank the mercy of the gods.



This dance is also called "Shitadashi Sanbasô" or Sanbasô with his tongue sticking out. This is because at the climax the protagonist, Sanbasô, sticks his tongue out while dancing to the rhythmical tune of a drum.
- source : www.kabuki21.com -

Once a pottery maker was invited by the Lord of Nagasaki to dance this Sanbaso. He was very skilfull and the Lord gave him the name "Like a Monkey" 如猿 Joen. The potter then begun to make these dolls.


. shita dashi Sanbasoo 舌出し三番叟
Sanbaso dancer sticking out his tongue .

Hasami 波佐見, Mikawachi 三川内, Hirado 平戸 

.......................................................................


oniyoozu 鬼洋蝶 kite with a demon face
oniyôcho, oniyoochoo

. Oni 鬼 Demon Amulets .

There is even a shochu 焼酎 shnaps with this label.



..................................................................................................................................................................
Ikinoshima Iki no Shima 壱岐島 Iki Island


ondako 鬼凧 "demon kite"

Related to the Demon Legend of Iki Island.
source : ikishi.sakura.ne.jp

.......................................................................

Iki no hassakubina, hassaku hina 壱岐の八朔雛 hassaku Hina dolls



Since olden times, people pray for the well-being of their children on the Hassaku day and put up paper dolls to celebrate. In the Inland parts of the island, they celebrate
ta no mo no sechi 田面の節 たのものせち (tanomo), with prayers for a good harvest.
They are also related to the custom of drinking green tea, coming from China.
- reference : ikinoshima.web.fc2.com -

. hassaku 八朔 first day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar .


..................................................................................................................................................................
Nagasaki town 長崎 

. Koga ningyoo 古賀人形 Koga dolls .
Acha san 阿茶さん Portugese from Nagasaki
tori daki saru 鶏抱き猿 monkey embracing a rooster

. bekkoo 鼈甲 / べっこう / べっ甲 tortoiseshell craft .

. Urashima Taro (浦島 太郎) Koga Doll .


biidoro ビードロ "Vidro" Bidoro glass art
. hoppen, poppen ぽっぺん glass ball plopping .


. kujira no shiofuki 鯨の潮吹き whale spouring, blowing .

. Nagasaki hata 長崎ハタ Hata kite from Nagasaki.

. peeron ペーロン Peron dragon boat for racing .

.......................................................................

太鼓山 festival float with big drum
コッコデショ Kokkodesho the Flying Drum
(樺島町) from Kabashima
During the festival the bearers throw it high in the air and then catch it again.





. Nagasaki Okunchi 長崎おくんち Festival .

.......................................................................

tengu men 天狗面 Tengu mask



At the 諏訪神社 Suwa Jinja shrine of Nagasaki, there is a famous mask. But the Tengu looks more like an oni, 鬼 a demon. They are an amulet to ward off evil.
It is small, only about 8 cm and made from papermachee. Three little bamboo stick horns, painted white, come out of the head.
After the war they were not made any more.

.......................................................................

Nagasaki yaki 長崎焼 Nagasaki pottery

Kameyama yaki, Kameyamayaki 亀山焼 Kameyama Pottery
Kameyama-yaki suddenly appeared in the early 19th century and 60 years late in the early Meiji period, it disappeared. It is now a phantom ceramic.


CLICK for more photos !

Of interest is the mention of an Englishman by the name of James Lord Bowes from Liverpool, who was recognized as a consul by the Meiji Emperor, the first as an Englishman. He noted on the Kameyama-yaki in his book, indicating the exported Kameyama-yaki was known in England, and analyzing that the Kameyama-yaki had an influence from Chinese ceramic . . .
- source : micnoski.blog.fc2.com -


- and with the name of Kameyama

亀山社中 Kameyama Shachu of Sakamoto Ryoma :
- Nagasaki Kameyama Shachu - reference -

.......................................................................

Nagasaki ningyoo 長崎人形 Nagasaki dolls

nanban fune 南蛮船 boat of foreigners

.......................................................................

ryuu odori 龍踊り dragon dance from Nagasaki


source : upp.so-net.ne.jp/u1cku/gangu5


..................................................................................................................................................................
Sasebo town 佐世保市

gankake ushi 願かけ牛/ 願掛け牛 bull / ox for making a wish


source : e-nagasaki.com/contents/catalo

In the Muromachi period, the lord of Sasebo, 松浦藩主 Matsuura went all the way to Kyoto to get a written certificate that he was the official Daimyo 大名 Lord of the Region.
But the Shogun 足利善政 Ashikaga Yoshimasa did not grant him an audience for a long time. In one night Lord Matsuura saw a red bull in his dream, telling him his wish would soon come true. And indeed soon after that, he got his written certificate (お墨付き).
The amulets are now made of cast metal or carved in wood.


source : yushu.or.jp/english
50 yen New Year's Stamps for 2009
"Gan-kake ushi", a folk toy of Sasebo, Nagasaki, in association with the year of the ox.

.......................................................................


source : sasebokoma.jp/
Sasebo koma 佐世保こま spinning top from Sasebo
It has the form of a chive, ラッキョウ型 rakkyuu. Made from wood of the beech tree (a kind of buna, Lithocarpus edulis). It has rings in the five auspicious colors from the Chinese Yin-Yang lore : green, red, yellow, white and black..


kujuuku koma 佐世保九十九(くじゅうく)こま 99 varieties of spinning tops
Made by Yamamoto Yukitoshi  山本幸俊
Sasebo koma 佐世保こま spinning top from Sasebo

bunbunkoma ぶんぶんこま
kasa koma かさこま like an umbrella
nasu koma なすこま like an eggplant
niji koma 紅こま with rainbow colors
ryuugo りゅうご
rokkaku koma 六角こま with six sides
toojin koma 唐人こま "Chinese man"
掛けこま / 坊主こま / 太鼓こま / 銅座こま / とんがりこま /ぎんがいこま / 松笠だんがい / ひねりこま / かぶこま / むちこま / ひょうたんこま / 神代こま / へそこま / 曲こま / 二重じぐりこま / 源水こま / 手回しこま

博多こま Hakata koma
日奈久こま Hinagu koma
飯坂こま Iizaka koma
高知平こま Kochi hira koma
大鰐こま Oowani koma
大阪平こま Osaka hira koma
佐世保こま Sasebo koma
島原こま Shimabara koma
館山こま Tateyama koma
東北平こま Tohoku hira koma
鳥取平こま Tottori hira koma
山梨平こま Yamanashi hira koma

Look at many photos of all kinds
- source : wakwak.com/~eohashi

. Spinning Top 独楽(コマ) koma .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

yasobotoke, yaso botoke 那蘇仏 "Jesus-Buddha"

- Kobayashi Issa wrote

君が世や茂りの下の那蘇仏
kimi ga yo ya shigeri no shita no yaso-botoke

Great Japan --
overgrown with weeds
Jesus-Buddha

Tr. David Lanoue


- source : Nakamura Sakuo -


the realm at peace --
in a thicket, down low
a Jesus Buddha


This summer hokku is from 1793, during Issa's wanderings in western Japan, when he was on the southwestern island of Kyushu. In the spring he was staying at a Buddhist temple whose head priest was also a haikai poet in the small city of Yatsushiro, so he must have heard about the uprising in 1637 by Roman Catholic Christians in Amakusa on the island just offshore from Yatsushiro. This rebellion against the local lord sent to control the area by the shogun happened together with a big rebellion by Christians in the Shimabara area just to the north that nearly defeated shogunal troops sent to put down the uprising. Earlier, in 1614, the shogunate had outlawed Christianity in Japan, since it regarded missionaries as the agents of the colonialist powers, but after the 1637 rebellions the arrest and persecution of Christians began in earnest. Some Christians were crucified, while many others were deported to Spanish and Portuguese colonies. Further, all Japanese were forced to register as a believer at a Buddhist temple, so the remaining Christians went underground and continued worshiping in secret. Soon after the shogunate was overthrown in 1868, about 30,000 "hidden Christians" came out of hiding.

In Issa's time the shogunate was no longer worried about an attempt by western countries to colonize Japan in the name of Christianity, and the public persecution of Christians had virtually stopped, though it was still illegal to be a Christian, so the statue mentioned in the hokku seems to be tucked away inside a thicket, though Issa has managed to find it. Almost invisible on the ground below branches and leaves is a stone statue of Jesus done in a style that suggests Buddhism, either as a disguise or because the sculptor was more familiar with Buddhist statues. Since the hidden Christians were Catholic, the most common form of "Jesus Buddha" was a Madonna and child statue in which Jesus is a baby and Mary resembles the bodhisattva of mercy Kannon (Avalokiteśvara), who is usually represented as female in Japan. Kannon may be the "Buddha" in the hokku, since bodhisattvas, too, were referred to as Buddhas.

The statue could be either an object of worship or the marker of a hard-to-see Christian grave or graveyard. The statue probably wouldn't be placed right beside the road, but it hasn't been hidden completely away, either. The statue could be either contemporary or something from the past, and Issa's own attitude isn't completely clear, but he does seem to feel grateful that in the peaceful reign of the present shogun, a century and a half after the Christian rebellions, there is no longer a pressing need to persecute Christians and that a kind of harmony between Christianity and Buddhism is possible, as symbolized by the tranquil fusion of Mary and her child with the bodhisattva Kannon.

Issa obviously feels that his very ability to wander freely around Japan is due to the enforced peace that has continued under the shoguns since the Tokugawa regime came to power in 1603, and he wrote several hokku during his years of wandering in the west that use kimi ga yo, "under the present ruler." The phrase usually expresses gratitude and refers to peace or harmony. It comes from ancient waka and does not refer only to the emperor, and it has no nationalistic overtones or any relation to the post-1868 national anthem, which uses this phrase differently in a context of emperor worship. In Issa's age "ruler" most commonly referred to the shogun, especially if you lived in Edo, though in Kyoto and among supporters of the emperor it referred to the emperor. In ceremonial hokku, "ruler" is more likely to refer to the emperor, and in hokku about history or politics, it is more likely to refer to the shogun or the shogunate. Since it was the shogunate that outlawed Christianity and enforced the peace, I take Issa to be referring to the present shogun.
Chris Drake


Ideology and Christianity in Japan
By Kiri Paramore
They call it Yaso, it has also been called Tenshu . . .
... the religion of Yaso ...
... A small place of worship was built in Nagasaki and a few Japanese were baptized. ... They asked many questions about O Deus Sama (God), O Yaso Sama ...
- source : books.google.co.jp -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Reference and Photos . Gangu Guide .
. Reference and Photos . Folkcraft Samurai .
. Reference and Photos . Isamu Folk Toys .
. Reference and Photos . Yama no Ie . Folk Toys .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. WASHOKU . Regional Dishes from Japan

MORE
. Nagasaki Folk Toys - this BLOG .


. Japan after the BIG earthquake March 11, 2011


[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
- #nagasaki #kyushu #shimabara #hirado -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

10 Apr 2016

MINGEI - Saga prefecture

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


. Saga Folk Toys

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Saga Folk Art -  佐賀県 



Famous for the pottery centers of
Karatsu, Imari and Arita.

Part of the former Hizen province (Hizen no Kuni 肥前国).

. Aritayaki 有田焼 Arita Pottery .

. Imariyaki 伊万里焼 Imari Pottery .

. Karatsuyaki 唐津焼 Karatsu Pottery .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
..................................................................................................................................................................
Kanzaki town 神崎 in Eastern Saga
Yanagawa town 柳川  
There is also part of Kanzaki, Ozaki town in Fukuoka
. Fukuoka Folk Art - 福岡県  .



- quote -
Ozaki Dolls are pottery dolls handed down in Osaki Nishibun area in Kanzaki-machi, Saga Pref.
This craft is one of the oldest pottery works in the prefecture. It is characterized by the warm feeling of clay, the humorous look, and colorful paintings. Ozaki Dolls originates in the dolls that the Mongolian warriors captured during the Mongol Invasions of Japan (in 1281) made to blow tunes and remembered their faraway homeland. They taught the technique to the local people and since then the pottery in this district has developed. The locally obtained clay is molded into dolls and then holes are made in blowing types. After that they are dried for two weeks, fired in the handmade kilns, painted white first, and finally colored with bright iwaenogu (Japanese dry pigments).
The bright red stands for the Mongolians' blood, blue for peace, and yellow for nature.


鳩笛 テテップウ Teteppuu、

There are about 20 kinds of Ozaki Dolls including pigeon whistles, baby-sitter dolls, or sparrows. Among them a pigeon whistle, which is called "Tetteppu," is the most popular souvenir.
- source : nippon-kichi.jp


. Ozaki ningyoo 尾崎人形 clay dolls from Ozaki in Fukuoka .
close to 佐賀市、神埼郡吉野ヶ里町、三養基郡みやき町
Fukuoka 福岡県:久留米市、大川市、福岡市


..................................................................................................................................................................
Karatsu town 唐津 


source : upp.so-net.ne.jp/u1cku/gangu5
Karatsu hikiyama 唐津曳山 festival floats


source : asahi-net.or.jp/~SA9S-HND

. Karatsu Okunchi 唐津おくんち Festival in Karatsu . - The ninth of the ninth month.

.............................................................................................................................................


Yamakasa ningyoo 山笠人形 Yamakasa festival float dolls



. . . CLICK here for Photos !

- quote -
Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival (Yamagasa)
A resplendent and gallant summer festival with men racing through the streets while bearing 1-ton floats on their shoulders

Men carrying yamakasa, which are large 1-ton floats elaborately decorated for this festival, race through the streets of Hakata at full speed. The sight of the men concentrating all their energy into the floats captivates the hearts of the spectators who number as many as 1 million people.

The yamakasa floats come in two categories, namely, colorful floats for decorative purposes called kazariyama, and
floats to be carried in the festival known as kakiyama.
The decorated floats are set up on the street corners on July 1st for display, and you can take a look at them while strolling through the city. They are almost 10 meters tall, and are decorated with samurai or popular anime character dolls produced through the expertise of master Hakata Doll craftsmen. Formerly, men used to run about carrying these tall decorated floats, but because they would get stuck on electric cables and lights, it was decided that they were more suited for display purposes only. The floats exhibited at the Kushida-jinja Shrine can be viewed all year round.



The carried floats are borne by the men from the 10th and the festival culminates in excitement on the 15th. Early in the morning, at 4:59 on this final day of the festival, the first float sets off at the signal of beating drums. This is a contest in which men compete on the time taken to race along a 5 km course, over more or less 30 minutes; although speed is important, they are also required to maintain a graceful and heroic style as they run carrying the floats on their shoulders.

The interesting thing about this festival is that the citizens of Hakata refrain from eating cucumbers during the festival period. Even if they happen to find slices of cucumber in a bowl of salad, they will pick them out. This practice is said to derive from the fact that the pattern of the round cucumber slices resembles the emblem of the festive deity called Gion-sama enshrined in Kushida-jinja Shrine.
- source : www.jnto.go.jp -


The Hakata Gion Yamagasa festival is a religious ritual of Hakata's grand tutelary shrine, Kushida Shrine. It is concentrated on "Decoration Floats", Kazari Yamagasa, which are covered with beautiful Hakata dolls and set up in various places around the town.
As opposed to the elegant and feminine Kazari Yamagasa, the masculine "Kaki Yamagasa" is carried around the city from the 10th. The climax of the festival is the Oiyama race that starts from early morning on the 15th.

. Hakata no Gion matsuri 博多の祗園祭 Hakata Gion Festival.
Hakata matsuri 博多祭(はかたまつり) Hakata festival
..... yamagasa 山笠(やまがさ)floats
oi yamagasa 追山笠(おいやまがさ)race of the floats
.... oiyama 追山(おいやま)
- - - - - kigo for lage summer - - - - -

..............................................................................................................................................



kachikachi kuruma カチカチ車 birds on wheels

.......................................................................

. hiryuu 飛竜 flying dragon .
also on a festival float

.......................................................................

. Karatsu no koma 唐津の独楽 spinning tops .

..................................................................................................................................................................m
Kashima town 鹿島

nogomi ningyoo のごみ人形 / 能古見 / 能古見人形 dolls from Nogomi
. . . . clay bells
... Inari koma 稲荷駒 horse from the fox shrine
祐徳稲荷
. Inari Jinja 稲荷神社 Fox Shrines and their amulets .

- quote -
Nogomi clay bells in the shape of Oriental Zodiac animals
are folk craft of Kashima City, Saga Pref. These bells were first made in Nogomi soon after the World War II. The founder of Nogomi bells was Teruji Suzuta, a dye artist. He had been thinking of making something that would make the postwar savage society more pleasant, and had an idea of designing clay bells because he had liked folk toys since young.

Initially it was his sideline, but unsatisfied with being engaged only in designing, he made a trial piece himself and at last opened "Nogomi Clay Bell Workshop".
After his death, his son Shigeto followed his father's footsteps and has been creating many dolls in different designs. His dolls have been taken up as the motifs of New Year's stamps twice. The bright coloration fascinates a lot of collectors. The dolls in the shape of the new year's Zodiac sign are made in every December, and they are very popular as the bringers of good luck.
- source : nippon-kichi.jp -



clay bell with a mouse
Made by Suzuta Teruji 鈴田照次. One of the 12 zodiac animals he makes. About 8 cm high.
Suzuta (1916 - 1981) was a cloth dyer.


The dolls made of clay are known as lucky charms that drive away evil spirits. They are characterized by round and simplified shapes and are colorfully painted.
source : www.asobo-saga.jp

.......................................................................

men buryuu 面浮立(めんぶりゅう) - buryuu men 浮立面 masks for Buryu dance


reference : kotaro-saint.at.webry

- quote -
Menburyu dance - A tradition of Kashima
Menburyu is a traditional performing art which represents Saga Prefecture.
The leading players are dancers who wear grim demon masks and valiant Kakeuchi costumes, and are accompanied by gongs, drums, and flutes and the like in a furyu parade.
Because of its stirring character, one of the theories concerning its origin traces it to a battle that took place during the Warring States period (middle of the 15th century to the middle of the 16th century).
It has been dedicated from olden times in order to pray for a good harvest and to expel illnesses, mainly in the southwest area of Saga Prefecture.
This film introduces a brief description of the two representative Menburyu, each of which belongs to a different style which has been handed down in the Otonari area and the Hogaura area. Both of them have been designated Important Intangible Cultural Properties by the prefecture. In the film, the origin, props, roles, and the structure of the way it is dedicated are shown to differ between the two dances. It also urges the necessity of passing on the local traditional culture to the future by depicting the activities of handing down the dance from adults to children.
- source : bunkashisan.ne.jp/ -


Furyumen Mask 風流面

Throughout the prefecture Menburyu (masked dance) festivals are held. The main character is a goblin that exterminates evil spirits. A mask of the goblin is called a Furyumen mask.

- source : www.asobo-saga.jp

..................................................................................................................................................................
北方町 Kitagata






Kishimayama ittoobori 杵島山一刀彫り Kishimayama woodcarving
carved with one blade

Mostly colored in red and black on the plain wood. They are very simple, but quite charming

..................................................................................................................................................................
Nishikawato village 西川登町


source : www.japanartsandcrafts.com

Yumino ningyoo 弓野人形 Yumino dolls, Yumino clay dolls 弓野土人形
(Yano ningyoo)



source : blogs.yahoo.co.jp/besshohidetoshi
子抱き holding a baby

Made at the beginning of the Meiji period, by Harada Kamejiro 原田亀次郎, a doll maker who had moved from Hakata.
Later 江口勇三郎 learned the craft from him and his family is now in the third generation.
The dolls are made very properly with a great deal of details.

. . . CLICK here for Photos !

.................................................................................

Nishikawato takezaiku 西川登竹細工 bamboo craft



It started around 1888 to give the local farmers an extra income and expanded soon into a trade of its own. There used to be more than 500 craftsmen shortly after WW II, but now there are only two left, because most of the farming tools are now made of different material.
佐賀県商工課(佐賀市城内1-1-59)
- reference and photos : pref.saga.lg.jp/web/shigoto -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Saga Nishiki Textile 佐賀錦

- quote
There are a variety of Saga Nishiki products, such as handbags, wallets and sash buckles that fascinate people with their beautiful elegance.


It is said that a wife of the Lord of Kashima Nabeshima Clan struck upon this textile by seeing ceiling patterns when she was sick in bed during the late Edo period. Their elegant and gorgeous geometric patterns are woven with silk as the weft and the gold, silver and lacquer as the warp.
- source : www.asobo-saga.jp

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Reference and Photos . Gangu Guide .
. Reference and Photos . Isamu Folk Toys .
. Reference and Photos . Yama no Ie . Folk Toys .
. Reference and Photos . Yama no Ie . footandtoy.jp .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. WASHOKU . Regional Dishes from Japan

MORE
. Saga Folk Toys - this BLOG .


. Japan after the BIG earthquake March 11, 2011


[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
- #saga #kyushu #karatsu #arita #imari -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::