. Nagasaki Folk Toys

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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 / 天草人形 .
Kumamoto

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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

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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 Baramon kite from the Goto Islands

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

This kite is said to be transferred from east Asia, such as India, Malaysia and Indonesia. The shape of this kite is very unique and not so popular in Japan. This type of kite is made at Hirado, Iki and Goto islands in Nagasaki prefecture located in southern part of Japan.This kite has an hummer on it. The design of the kite is that Damon bites the helmet of old soldier, Samurai.
. tako　凧 Kites of Japan - Introduction .

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Hasami 波佐見

Hasamiyaki, Hasami-yaki 波佐見焼 Hasami creamics
Hasami
is located close to Arita and Imari, but not nearly as famous.
Its manufacturers historically focused on mass-market ceramic products for ordinary Japanese people.
. hashioke Daruma 箸置け chopstick rest from Hasami .

- quote -
Hasami Porcelain
Tasteful and stylish, Hasami porcelain has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity in Japan. The craft can be traced back over 400 years to 1599, when three multi-chambered climbing kilns (called renboshiki-noborigama) were installed in the town of Hasami in central Nagasaki Prefecture. Marking the dawn of the area’s ceramics industry, this was the origin of Hasami porcelain.



While Hasami originally produced glossed ceramics known as yuyaku-toki, the discovery of natural deposits of porcelain constituents led to a gradual shift in production. In time, the local focus centered around celadon porcelain (called seiji in Japan) and blue and white sometsuke porcelain.

Traditional Hasami porcelain focused on everyday necessities, with standout products including the kurawanka bowl and the konpura bottle. The kurawanka bowl was a thick, durable porcelain bowl with arabesque designs called kurawanka applied by brush. Through mass-production—still uncommon at the time—common people were able to buy these bowls at an affordable price, leading to nationwide popularity.
Meanwhile, the konpura bottle was a dyed white porcelain bottle used to store products such as soy sauce and saké for export to Europe—a necessity since Nagasaki was the only area permitted to engage in international trade during the Edo Period (1603-1868). It’s even said the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy had a konpura bottle on his study desk.

By developing products that met people’s everyday needs, Hasami porcelain has long been valued both inside and outside of Japan. Characterized by elegantly shaped, nearly translucent white porcelain contrasted with gosu indigo pigment, its techniques are still passed on today, and will surely continue to be appreciated by people of all generations.
- source : japan-brand.jnto.go.jp/crafts -

kurawanka くらわんか is a local dialect, meaning " Why don't you eat something ?"

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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

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

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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.

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"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　

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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.



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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

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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 .

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Mikawachi 三川内

Mikawachi yaki 三川内焼 Mikawachi pottery



- quote -
The origins of Mikawachi Yaki date back to the building of a kiln by Korean potters that were brought back to this area of Kyushu by landowners who had taken part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign to the Korean Peninsular at the end of the 16th century.
The kiln here was used to fire porcelain for the Hirado clan up to the Meiji Restoration in 1868. As well as running the kiln, the Hirado clan was responsible for finding porcelain clay at nearby Amakusa and for the rapid development of skills and techniques, which are till alive today.

This ware is characterized by its over painting of cobalt on a white porcelain. Ever since the kiln was first fired, pieces were sent as tributes to both the court and warrior families and as a consequence, this china is of the highest quality, whether it be for everyday use or a special decorative item. The degree of care to produce items of such beauty and the delicacy of the work are part of its well established reputation. A great deal of tableware is being produced for use at some of Japan's finest restaurants. Items for use at the tea ceremony are also being made along with incense burner, sake flasks and vases.
- source : kougeihin.jp.e.oo.hp.transer -


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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 .

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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 .

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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.

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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 -

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Nagasaki ningyoo 長崎人形 Nagasaki dolls


CLICK for more photos !

They are clay dolls, made rather recently to please the tourists.
A potter from Saga named 江口勇三郎 Eguchi Yuzaburo instrulcted the potters from Nagasaki while he lived there until around 1990.
The figures show manly persons in costumes of the town.

. 弓野人形 Yumino dolls - Eguchi Yuzaburo .

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nanbansen, nanban no fune 南蛮船 boat of foreigners



It has become the motive on pottery, Kimonos, picture scrolls . ...
Tee ships are also called 紅毛船 Komosen.

. Nanban　南蛮 Namban, the "Southern Barbarians" .
- Introduction -

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ryuu odori 龍踊り dragon dance from Nagasaki


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


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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.

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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 .

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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 -

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zukkyan-kyan ずっきゃんきゃん piggy-back doll



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

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. WASHOKU . Regional Dishes from Japan

MORE
. Nagasaki Folk Toys - this BLOG .


. Japan after the BIG earthquake March 11, 2011


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