Hanamaki Doll

Hanamaki dolls originated in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, during the Kyoho era (1716–1735) under artisan Zenshiro Ota. Their origins are said to date back to Tsutsumi dolls in Sendai and Fushimi dolls in Kyoto. The "Three Great Clay Dolls of Tohoku" are Tsutsumi dolls from Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. The production of Hanamaki dolls was temporarily halted after the last craftsman passed away in 1959, but they were restored by Hiraga Kogei Co., Ltd. in 1974. Hiraga Emiko of Hiraga Kogei is the current sole maker of Hanamaki dolls. Hiraga Kogei was originally run by Emiko's father-in-law. Then, the local government asked them to revive Hanamaki dolls, production of which had ceased in 1959, and Magozaemon and his son, Shoichi, began making them in 1972. After Emiko married Shoichi, she helped him and learned how to make dolls. Shoichi was mainly in charge of painting the dolls. After Magozaemon passed away, Emiko took over the job. After her husband, Shoichi, passed away in 1999, Emiko has continued to preserve the tradition of Hanamaki dolls by herself.