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| 人形の季節 |
| The season for dolls |
| おいたちと人形 |
| 卒塔婆小町と大臣賞 |
| 人形と平和 |
| 伎芸天とサリー |
Wartime atmosphere created chaos in most parts of Japan, including the town of Hakata. At that time, Hakata , which was once famous for Hakata Doll production, was in a very chaotic condition due to the war and demand for Hakata Dolls dwindled. This led to their eventual disappearance from the town. Only a few people including some Hakata Doll artisans, elderly folks, women and children made toy-like dolls instead of real Hakata dolls due to limited supply of materials. One day, my husband also made such a toy-like doll for us. My husband was supposed to go to the front the next day, leaving his elderly parents, a two-year old girl, a 3 month-old boy and myself. He made the doll as his momento for us in the night before his departure. I remember that people wanted something that would make them feel peaceful in those days. I displayed the doll in the showcase at my own shop.
After a while, a young navy second lieutenant came to my shop, asking me to sell the doll to him. He said, "I'm ordered to make a sortie tomorrow. I said 'good-bye' to my parents and left my house. Now I am looking for my wife." I asked him, "You are looking for your wife?" "Yes. I mean…" said the lieutenant, "this Hakata doll. I would like to carry this doll in my bag while on duty. Please sell the doll to me." I turned down his offer, saying "I would like to sell the doll to you. But I am afraid I can't. This doll is the only momento my husband left for us." The lieutenant went off to the nearest train station with a very disappointed look.
Then, I hit upon an idea--- 'I might be able to make a doll for people like the lieutenant who are very eager to have one. I could make a doll…, well I should.' I took the doll out of the showcase and ran to the train station, carefully holding the doll in my hands. When I got to the station, I found the man had boarded the train which was about to leave. I rushed up and handed the doll to him through the window. Until I met this young lieutenant at my shop, I had not noticed that a doll could give something peaceful to not only children but also adults. It was a discovery for me that a doll could make adults feel relaxed. This discovery motivated me to begin making dolls professionally. I thus started doll making sensitive to the environment around me at the time.
It was very tough for a poor woman like me to become a professional Hakata doll artisan. I had a hard time in improving my skill, Mr. Yoichi Kojima,the master Hakata Doll artisan, guided me very seriously day by day so that I was able to get over the hard time. "Take positive and firm steps to get over whatever hardships you face, if you want to become a professional Hakata Doll artisan", he often said to me. "Take a small, slow but steady step forward to improve your skill. This is the most important thing. You should take time to move forward. Don't be in a hurry. Trying to become a professional in a hurry results in an immature skill and more failures in doll production ". Mr. Kojima recently passed away but his teaching still remains alive in my mind.
Years later, I travelled alone to Nara in spring when fragrant olives were in full bloom. I enjoyed walking in the countryside on Yamato Road along which many temples were located. I also enjoyed viewing Buddhist statues at the temples. Every statue has its own unique appearance. The Buddhist statue I was most intrigued by was Gigei-ten Gigei-ten stands with half-opened eyes. It's mouth is well-shaped and seemingly about to open to utter holy words. I'ts nose is distinctly oriental in atmosphere. Observing the statue very closely, I found myself bowing deeply to it.
Gigei-ten has very plump cheeks and gentle eyes. I like such a look. In a cold and hard world like today, people mention that the female devil's mask typically stands for modern female beauty. However, I think female beauty is represented by Gigei-ten. The beauty of Gigei-ten encompasses various forms of spirituality including the concepts of worldly desires and idle complaints. This is what I have been intrigued by, and probably what other people must be charmed by as well. As a professional Hakata doll artisan, I would like to make dolls which always move the heartstrings of people who observe them. I would like to produce artwork which move people forever.
