Tracing the SURUGA Hina Ningyo (Seasonal Festival Dolls), we can find their origins in the Rentenjin doll made from "Tōso" (paulownia wood paste). It is said that the dolls were first made by inviting clay artisans from Mino to create clay figures.
Later, Tenjin statues dressed in costumes began to be made, and one made in 1853 still exists today. Costumed Tenjin statues were being made during the late Edo period.

• Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques

  1. The preparation of the base material shall be as follows:
  (1) In the case of Rentenjin, the head and body shall be made using the "kiji-oshi" method with paulownia wood paste.
  (2) In the case of Tenjin dolls, fifteen-figure sets, historical dolls and May dolls, the following shall apply:
  (i) The head is shaped using the "dough pressing" method with paulownia wood paste.
  The construction of the torso should be done using the "straw torso construction" method.
  H. The shaping of the hands and feet shall be done by "pressing" using paulownia wood paste or by "shaving" using the raw wood.

   

  2. The application of white pigment shall be as follows:
  (1) The head and body of Rentenjin shall be given a base coat and wiped with water, followed by at least two top coats.
  (2) In the case of Tenjin dolls, fifteen-figure sets, historical dolls and May dolls, the following shall apply:
  (i) The head should be coated with a base coat, then a base coat, an intermediate coat, and a water wipe, followed by at least five top coats.
  (b) For the hands and feet, after applying the base coat, intermediate coat, and cutouts or finger cuts, apply at least three coats of topcoat.

   

  3. The coloring shall be as follows:
  (1) In the case of Rentenjin, the following applies:
  (i) Face painting involves using a fine brush or a detailed brush to draw the "crown," "hair," "eyes," "eyebrows," and "beard," and then applying "lipstick."
  (b) The costumes should be painted using either a thick or thin brush.
  (2) In the case of Tenjin dolls, fifteen-figure sets, historical dolls and May dolls, the following shall apply:
  (i) In the case of those using artificial eyes, after opening the eye with a small knife, the eyebrows and hairline should be drawn in ink using a fine brush or a fine brush, and then "lipstick should be applied".
  (b) In cases where an artificial eye is not used, the face should be drawn using a fine brush or a fine-tipped brush.

   

  4. "Hair attachment" involves "implanting" the hair after straightening it.

   

  5. When lining the "fabric" of the costume, the "bag lining" method using paper should be used.

   

  raw materials

  1. The material used for "Kirito" (paulownia wood paste) shall be paulownia wood.

  2. The wood used for the base of the hands and feet shall be paulownia.

  3. The thread used for the hair shall be silk thread or of equivalent material.

• Work scene

  Work scene

  This section introduces the manufacturing process for the fuselage section, which is mainly produced in Shizuoka.

  Step 1: Cutting the straw to the required size.

  After drying the rice straw wrapped in paper, it is cut.

  

  Step 2: Shaving

  Cut it into the desired shape with a knife.

  

  Step 3: Body assembly

  I create the arms and legs by threading wire through them and then wrap them in Japanese paper. I add cotton or other material to give them more body.

  画像をクリックすると動画が再生されます

  Step 4: Dressing

  We'll put the costume on. We'll stuff it with cotton to give it volume.

  

  Step 5: Arm folding (choreography)

  Fold the arms and adjust the shape.

  

  Step 6: Attaching the head

  Insert the head. In Shizuoka, due to the division of labor system, the bodies are often delivered without the heads attached.

  画像をクリックすると動画が再生されます

  工程7： 完成

  Add some props and it's complete!

  

   

• Close-up

  Close-up

  The gentle presence of Hina dolls imbued with heartfelt sentiment: SURUGA Hina Ningyo (Seasonal Festival Dolls)

  The roots of Hina dolls in Shizuoka lie in the "Tenjin Hina" dolls, which are based on the Tenjin faith. While Tenjin Hina dolls are given to celebrate the birth of a boy, Dairi Hina dolls are given to celebrate the birth of a girl. In Shizuoka prefecture, both types of dolls are displayed on April 3rd, a month later than the traditional date, and many families celebrate the festival together for both boys and girls.

   

  Expanding nationwide market share through division of labor

  Hina dolls are made through a division of labor, with the head, body, limbs, and decorations being produced separately. Shizuoka accounts for approximately 70% of the national production of the body parts. It can be said that this industry has developed due to the possibility of mass production. Looking into the workshop of Takagi Dolls, a doll maker, dolls in various stages of production are piled up all over the floor. The brightly colored costumes immediately catch the eye. In the large room, about 10 female employees are working one after another with practiced hands. It is a simple and quiet workshop without the use of machinery, but the bright colors of the glittering costumes create a mysterious atmosphere, as if you have wandered into another dimension.

  

  Hina dolls are made through a division of labor. In Shizuoka, the bodies are mainly made.

  Technology brings out the "human-likeness" of dolls.

  President Noboru Kobayashi entered this industry at the age of 26, and has been actually making dolls for about 25 years. In the assembly-line process of making the bodies, Kobayashi's job is to finish the movements (folding the arms). The mass production system, which produces 50 sets a day, is supported by the skill that enables him to work quickly and accurately. Dolls waiting to be moved are lined up beside Kobayashi. In truth, it is difficult to perceive something that is just a body without a head as a "doll." Even if it is dressed in a beautiful costume, it still looks like nothing more than an object made of pretty cloth. However, when Kobayashi bends the arms that are stretched straight out to the side using an awl and gives them movement, the "object" transforms into a "doll" as if it has been given life. A human-like warmth is born.

  The types of dolls that are popular change with the times.

  It's often said that "the choreography is where the craftsman's skill and individuality are concentrated." "It's necessary to show the figure in costume properly. It has to be symmetrical, and the balance of length from the neck to the shoulder, shoulder to the elbow, and elbow to the wrist is also important. We don't measure everything with a ruler, so to some extent we do it by feel." Cotton is stuffed into the sleeves to prevent them from losing their shape and to express the elegance of women and the dignity of men. The way the colors of the costumes are layered also reveals the craftsman's individuality. "Well, I use the colors I like." However, one cannot force their preferences on the customer too much. "First of all, there is the customer, and the work is done by taking orders, so I can't be too stubborn about it. It's meaningless if they don't buy it." They make things that will sell while responding to the customer's requests. The facial features of dolls and the colors of costumes that are preferred seem to change with the times. During the bubble economy, light-colored costumes were popular, but recently there has been a return to the old-fashioned, orthodox style. The facial features of dolls have also changed; during the high-growth period of the 1960s, they were round-faced with prominent eyes, but now the classic look of a slender face with almond-shaped eyes is making a comeback. The spirit of the times is influencing doll making as well.

  

  Add decorations and it's complete.

  Make it beautifully, with the intention of displaying it.

  With the declining birthrate and changing housing conditions, it's becoming difficult to increase sales. In large cities like Tokyo and Osaka, homes are smaller, and even if someone wants to give a beautiful doll as a gift, there's no place to put it. "Recently, some doll manufacturers have started offering to store the dolls when they're not being displayed in March." As times change, manufacturers need to be flexible in their thinking, but it's also necessary to help younger generations rediscover the meaning of seasonal festivals. Hina Matsuri (Girls' Day) originally stemmed from the custom of "nagashi-bina," where dolls made of paper or straw were used to transfer children's misfortunes and then floated down rivers or into the sea. Gradually, this evolved into displaying dolls to wish for health and happiness. The dolls embody not only the feelings of love for children but also the dedication of the craftsmen. We must not forget the sentiments of the Japanese people that have been passed down through generations.

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    Beauty is born from the hands of skilled craftsmen.

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    A whole field of Hina dolls. Women are dressing them in their costumes.

  Craftsman Profile

  Noboru Kobayashi

  Born in 1944. She has been involved with dolls for 30 years. Even while talking, she doesn't stop working on choreography.

  

  Anecdotes

  Tenjin-sama was also revered as the god of agriculture.

  Tenjin-sama, or Sugawara no Michizane, is famous as the god of learning, but he was also the god of agriculture. The Tsuchitenjin (Neritenjin), said to be the root of Shizuoka's Hina dolls, is painted in vermilion. It is said that in the past, when planting rice and drawing in water, Tsuchitenjin was placed as a marker to invite the heavenly god of agriculture, and the vermilion color is associated with fire and the sun, and it is said that it was also a prayer to protect the growing rice from insects. Currently, there is only one craftsman in Shizuoka who makes this Tsuchitenjin.
  The dolls are made by kneading paulownia wood flour and wheat gluten paste, cutting them into shapes, drying them, and then coloring them. Their simplicity and vibrant colors are striking. They have thin eyebrows and cool, almond-shaped eyes. The facial expressions vary considerably depending on the maker, but looking at these dolls makes you feel like the gods are close by.

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    Tsuchitenjin, characterized by its vivid vermilion color.

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    The craftsman's feelings are embodied in the doll's expression.