Nakayama Ningyo are clay dolls made in the Nakayama district of Hiraka-machi, Yokote City, prized for their rounded, endearing shapes and vivid coloring. They are said to have originated in the mid-Meiji era, when Hiwatashi Yoshi, a local woman, began making clay figures inspired by anesama ningyo (traditional paper dolls) and oshie (padded fabric pictures) as a means of supporting herself after the death of her husband, giving the craft a history of about 150 years. At first the dolls were mainly seasonal figures for festivals, such as hina dolls and Kabuki characters, but later the craft came to include motifs distinctive to Akita, such as kamakura snow huts, Kanto pole lanterns, Bonden, and Akita dogs, as well as clay bells shaped like the animals of the zodiac. The 'zodiac clay bells' devised by third-generation maker Hiwatashi Giichi became known nationwide after the sheep design was adopted for a New Year's postage stamp in 1979 (Showa 54). Today, the Hiwatashi Doll Shop in Yokote City continues to carry on the tradition, and in January 2021 (Reiwa 3), Nakayama Ningyo was designated a Traditional Craft of Akita Prefecture.
Origin
Nakayama Ningyo are said to have begun in the mid-Meiji era, when Hiwatashi Yoshi, who lived in the Nakayama district of Hiraka-machi, Yokote City, started making clay figures based on the local traditions of anesama ningyo and oshie as a way to support herself after losing her husband. At first she mainly made hina dolls for the March Girls' Festival and figures modeled on Kabuki characters.
History
Production continued through successive generations of the Hiwatashi family, with motifs symbolic of Akita, such as kamakura snow huts, Kanto pole lanterns, Bonden, and Akita dogs, as well as clay bells shaped like the animals of the zodiac, gradually added to the lineup. The 'zodiac clay bells' devised by third-generation maker Hiwatashi Giichi became a turning point that spread the name of Nakayama Ningyo nationwide when the sheep design was adopted for a New Year's postage stamp in 1979 (Showa 54). Nakayama Ningyo was designated a Traditional Craft of Akita Prefecture in January 2021 (Reiwa 3), and today the Hiwatashi Doll Shop, now in its fifth generation, continues to carry on the techniques.
Features
Nakayama Ningyo are characterized by their rounded, rustic, endearing shapes and their vivid coloring, which makes effective use of primary colors such as red, yellow, green, and black. Clay is packed into a plaster mold and removed, the seams are carefully filed down to refine the shape, and after drying and bisque firing, coloring is applied. Coloring is built up in the order of undercoating, base coating, and painting, and finished with materials such as gold powder. Today, more than 200 types of dolls and clay bells are made, including seasonal figures, lucky charms, and Kabuki characters.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Molding
Clay is packed into a plaster mold to produce the shape of the doll.
- 2
Shaping
The seam lines left by the mold are carefully filed down to refine the shape.
- 3
Drying and firing
After the shaped doll is dried, it is fired to harden the clay body.
- 4
Coloring
Color is built up in the order of undercoating, base coating, and painting, finished with primary colors such as red, yellow, green, and black.
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Artisans & Workshops
樋渡人形店
The sole maker carrying on the tradition of Nakayama Ningyo for five generations since its founding in the mid-Meiji era. It produces more than 200 types of dolls, including seasonal figures and zodiac clay bells.
How to Buy
- Hiwatashi Doll Shop
- The maker's own directly run shop, located at Ekinishi 2-3-10, Yokote City. Visitors can purchase Nakayama Ningyo dolls and zodiac clay bells.
Hands-on Experiences
樋渡人形店
秋田県横手市駅西2-3-10
Visitors may be able to observe the doll-making process (please confirm in advance).
FAQ
Q. What are the representative motifs of Nakayama Ningyo?
A. In addition to seasonal figures such as hina dolls and Kabuki characters, many pieces are modeled on Akita's local scenery and customs, including clay bells shaped like kamakura snow huts, Kanto pole lanterns, and the animals of the zodiac.
Q. What made Nakayama Ningyo known nationwide?
A. It became widely known after the sheep design from the zodiac clay bells devised by the third-generation maker was adopted for a New Year's postage stamp in 1979 (Showa 54).