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Welcome to the exhibit of kimekomi dolls by the Kimekomi Doll Acadamy under the expert tutelage of Ms. Isako Wasano. |
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This year's theme is the daimyo gyoretsu, or Parade of Lords. The time frame is feudal Japan in the 17th to 19th centuries. The Shogun Tokugawa has unified Japan, and in order to consolidate his power, he orders that the lords of the various provinces of Japan spend half of their time in Edo (Tokyo) where he can keep an eye on them. He forces them to make the trip by keeping their families as "guests" (hostages) in Edo. As a result of this policy, the city of Edo flourishes and becomes a metropolis. The road system infrastructure throughout Japan is developed and rigorously maintained. |
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There is one more benefit to the ruling Tokugawas in forcing the lords to travel back and forth between Edo and the provinces. Since the trip must be made in a manner befitting one's stature, the entourage is large, almost like a parade, and includes retainers, guards, pikesmen, bannermen, those who carry the supplies for the trip and those who carry the palanquin (the little box-like thing with a long pole) in which the lord himself rides. Since the cost of this borne by the lords, all of this pomp has the effect of draining valuable resources from the lord's coffers, thus helping to avoid the build-up of a military power that might challenge the Shogun. |
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Unfortunately there are and never were any pretty ladies wearing kimonos
on boats by bridges in Japan, but the pine trees along the sides of the
road really did exist and fulfilled an important function. The trees were
planted as part of a road contruction and maintainance policy ordered by
the Shogun to provide shade for the traveler in summer and protection from
the cold wind in winter. They could also be used to protect against an
attack as the defending army could cut down the trees to provide obstacles
to hinder an invading force. Midway along the main road, the Tokaido, connecting Tokyo and Kyoto lies the city of Toyokawa. Inside the city limits is a portion of the Old Road that, largely unchanged from the Edo period, still contains a stretch of pine trees lining the road. |
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Part of the enjoyment of looking around the festival and the exhibits is that sometimes you run into old friends. Here we meet up with two two-time adult delegates to Toyokawa. |
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Isako explains about making the dolls and the materials that are used. Isako made a special doll, entitled Wakamusha, for Congressman Michael Honda. The doll was presented to the congressman at a ceremony on Saturday at the amphitheater stage. |
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Making the dolls. Kits running from the simple to the ornate can be purchased. Glue is placed in the grooves etched into the wooden body of the doll and the clothing material is placed over the body. The material is attached by pressing the material into the grooves, thus avoiding the use of any stitching to attach the material to the body. |
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This past spring, two intrepid gentlemen joined a class to make kimekomi dolls. The only men in their class (Lucky them!), they worked hard to create dolls of beauty and elegance. Click on the picture if you would like to zoom out to see the artiste of this cute little thing. |
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And do you think this doll but a simple copy of the above? Look again,
especially at the position of the ribbon in her hair. The artiste who made
this doll is an unimposing gentleman who prefers, by his own admission,
to stay in the shadows, letting others enjoy the glory of the limelight.
Yet you can see the results of his diligence and hard work everywhere,
any time you look at one of the many signs and posters put up for the festival. Click on the picture to catch a glimpse of this mystery man. |
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And now we must go to look at other exhibits, but we leave you with a last shot of some more of the kimekomi dolls displayed along the northeast wall of the room. |
