(Chinese & Korean descriptions below)
The origins of the Yabase Doll are traced to when a doll maker from Kyoto set up a pottery establishment in today’s Akita City in 1772–1788. A mold was dug up from the pottery’s ruins by villagers from Yabase, and that became the Yabase Doll mold used today. Yabase has a Sannou-Hiyoshi shrine and a Tenmangu shrine. Festivals in those shrines became increasingly prosperous in the late Edo period, so Akita’s Kubota castle flourished. Doll shops in the region thrived as there was a custom to decorate a Tenjin doll for the birth of a boy, and a Hina doll for a girl.
Yabase dolls are traditional toys that have been handed down from ancient times in the Yabase district of Akita City. Simple clay dolls that are molded from clay and painted very carefully with pigments. Managing the mold and clay and painting take a lot of time and effort. The production process has five steps: preparation, mold-making, drying, baking, and painting. The traditional mold-making that involves putting two molds together, and the elaborate hand-painting, add a simple and familiar attractiveness to the clay dolls. The original forms include the god Tenjin, also affectionately called Oden-tsan, as well as the gods Ebisu and Daikoku, and Oiran’s bride.
Introducing how people are trying to preserve the tradition of Yabase Doll (Japanese only)
Introducing the historical background of Yabase Doll (Japanese only)
Introducing the historical background and how people make the dolls (Japanese only)
Short video clip introducing one of the art works of Yabase Doll representing boars, the zodiac of 2019
Current activities
Issues (the absence of successors)
In 2014, Tomo Michikawa, who was the sole successor of the tradition, passed away, and the Yabase doll, which has a history of over 200 years, faced a crisis of extinction. However, locals started “Yabase doll densho no kai” (the name of the organization) to save the tradition. They still provide some events for making, selling, exhibitions of Yabase dolls, etc.
Yabase Doll-making workshop at Yabase Doll Heritage Museum
Make a Yatsuhashi doll from clay. The unglazed dolls are then painted to complete the process. It takes one day to die-cut the doll, one day to paint it, and two days in total to make one doll.
It takes two days in total to make one doll. You can take the completed doll home with you.
Fee: 20% more of the price of the doll
Date & Time
For 2 or less people...Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 13:00 to 16:00 (on the activity days of the Traditions Society)
For 3 or more people...Every 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from 13:00 to 16:00 (date and time change is negotiable)
Bring an apron and a towel (please wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty).
Yabase Doll-painting experience course
Paint unglazed dolls with neocolor paints.
Fee: Same as the price of dolls sold (children under elementary school age are half price)
Date & Time
For 2 people or less: Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 13:00 to 16:00 (on the activity days of the Traditions Society)
For 3 or more people...Every 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from 13:00 to 16:00 (date and time change is negotiable)
Bring an apron and a towel (please wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty)
How to get there
Yabase Ningyo Densyokan (Yabase Doll Heritage Museum)
Take a bus (Rinkai Eigyousyo line, Kenritsu Pool line, or Chuo Kotsu line) at Akita station to Sanno Koban Mae. Walk for 12 minutes.
How to purchase
Area Nakaichi at Akita Station
Akita Airport
Online
https://nowvillages.shop-pro.jp (Japanese only)
https://tabineko.ocnk.net/product-list/99 (Japanese Only)
Photos by Tohoku Digital Archive
八橋人形
秋田市的八橋人形起源據說在安永・天明年間(一七七二~一七八八),京都伏見的人形師川尻鍋子山(現秋田市)開窯後,燒製陶器與人形才開始的。之後、八橋村(現秋田市)的和助、吉右衛門等人從窯的遺跡創建原型,就成了現在的八橋人形的雛型。八橋有山王日吉神社與天滿宮,據說江戶時代後期,兩社的祭典盛大,作為久保田城下的不夜城而熱鬧不已,此地有男子出生後裝飾天神人形,女子在此節日裝飾雛人形的習俗,人形屋櫛比鱗次,繁榮不已。製作工程分為預備―取型―乾燥―窯燒―繪畫的五個工程,配合古式的型進行取型,各個工人的仔細手繪表情與完成的繪畫具有獨特的風格,純僕且具土氣的親切感是充滿魅力的土人形。代代傳承的原型除了有被稱為「ODENTSUAN」而為人熟知的天神之外,還有惠比壽、大黑、花魁花嫁等共七十種。
八桥玩偶
秋田市八桥玩偶的起源于安永・天明年间(公元1772~1788年),京都伏见的玩偶师傅在川尻锅子山(现秋田市)开设了窑,并开始烧制陶器和玩偶后,秋田八桥玩偶就此诞生了。在窑开设后,八桥村(现秋田市)的和助,吉右卫门等人在此地制造模型,这就成了现在八桥人偶的雏形。
山王日吉神社和天满宫坐落在八桥地区,江户时代后期这两大社举办的祭典开始变得盛大隆重,久保田城下作为欢庆地也因此变得热闹非凡。当地有生男孩便要以天神人偶作为装饰,生女孩则用女儿节人偶来装饰的习俗。这样的习俗使得玩偶店一家家的增多变得繁盛起来。
八桥玩偶的制作过程分为,准备工作-模具取样-干燥-窑烧-绘制这五个过程。古式的模型取样,手工精心绘制的玩偶表情和彩绘,质朴甚至带有些乡土气息的亲切感是八桥玩偶的魅力所在。除了由一代代传承下来被大家称作是ODENTSAN的天神以外,还有惠比寿·大黑、花魁新娘等70种玩偶。
야바세 인형
아키타시의 야바세 인형의 기원은 1772년~ 1788경, 교토 후시미의 인형사가 카와시리나베코야마(현 아키타 시)에 가마를 열고, 도자기와 인형을 구운 것이 시초라고 한다. 그 후, 야바세 마을(현 아키타시)의 와스케, 기치우에몬 등이 가마 자국을 보고 원형을 복원하여, 이것이 현재 야바세 인형의 원형으로 되었다.
야바세에는 산노히요시 신사와 덴만구 궁이 있고, 에도 시대 후기에는 두 신사의 제전도 성대하게 되어, 구보타 성하의 환락지로서 활기를 보이고 있었다. 소년이 태어나면 텐진인형을 장식하고 여자 아이를 축하하는 절구에는 히나인형을 장식하는 풍습으로 하고 있던 것으로 인형집이 늘어서 매우 번성했다고 한다.
제작 공정은 밑 준비 – 틀 만들기 - 건조 - 가마 구이 – 그림 넣기의 다섯 단계로 나뉜다. 옛날 방식의 맞추어 가는 방법에 의한 틀 만들기와, 각각의 공인에 의해 정성껏 손으로 그린 표정과 그림 그리기 등에서 각자의 마무리 특색이 나오고, 소박하고 흙 냄새나는 친화력이 매력인 흙 인형이다.
대대로 계승되어 온 원형은「오뎅쓰앙」이라고 불리며 사랑받아 온 천신님 외에도 에비스・ 다이코쿠, 일본 전통 결혼식 때 신부가 입는 오이랑을 입은 신부 등을 포함해 70 종류에 달하고 있다.
Photos by Tohoku Digital Archive