Local toys - Kyoudogangu

Japanese: 郷土玩具 - きょうどがんぐ

These toys have been handmade all over Japan since ancient times and are loved in each region. Most of them were created between the Edo period and the Meiji period, and reflect the local color of the area, such as the lifestyle and customs of the region. Many are old-style traditional toys that developed mainly in castle towns that still retain the customs of the old feudal domains, and are distinct from modern toys made from new materials and mechanical manufacturing techniques from the Meiji period onwards. Many have been overwhelmed by modern toys and have disappeared, but there are said to be about 3,000 types scattered throughout the country today.

[Ryosuke Saito]

Features

The materials used are cheap earth, wood, bamboo, straw, paper, cloth, and thread, which have existed since before the Meiji period and are relatively easy to obtain from everyday life. They are handmade, and traditional techniques and ideas are seen, giving them the individuality of folk art. In terms of content, in addition to toys for children, many are connected to folk beliefs and local customs. Most are sold at festivals and fairs at shrines and temples, and many are lucky charms for safe childbirth, child-rearing, protection from illness and disaster, good luck and success in life, good fortune and longevity, prosperity in business, and good harvests, or have a mascot-like character. Some of them are particularly strong in the colors of talismans given by shrines, and some do not look like toys at all. There are also ones related to seasonal decorations for March and May, and annual events throughout the year, giving them a strong sense of the seasons. In particular, various dolls were created in connection with seasonal events, and they form the core of local toys in terms of both quality and quantity.

Paper and clay dolls are mainly produced in castle towns and their surrounding areas. This is because Japanese paper is widely used in such areas and waste paper can be reused as material for toys, as well as the influence of tile firing used in town construction. At the end of the Edo period, when clay doll production was at its height, there were over 100 production areas across the country. They were also a product of the peace that came with 300 years of national isolation. Wooden dolls were often developed in mountainous areas. All have a unique handmade beauty, and there is a wide variety, with shapes varying from place to place. These works, which are the product of skillful use of simple materials and the art of craftsmanship and ideas, have been introduced overseas as traditional Japanese folk toys, and are highly regarded.

[Ryosuke Saito]

history

During the feudal era, when daily life and distribution systems were limited to certain regions, most toys were local, centered around castle towns, and were, so to speak, local toys themselves. After the mid-Edo period, people became interested in old customs and ways of learning about them through traditional hand-play toys found in various regions. This was also evident in the appearance of historical essays such as "Kottoshu" (by Santo Kyoden), "Kyushoran" (by Kitamura Nobuyo), and "Morisada Manko" (by Kitagawa Morisada).

Entering the Meiji period, this type of toy gradually fell into disuse as modern toys advanced, losing its appeal as a child's toy. In its place, however, a hobbyist movement among adults began to emerge. This arose out of a nostalgia for traditional Japanese toys in reaction to the Western fascination of the time. One of the representatives who played a leading role in this movement was Tokyo-based toy researcher Shimizu Seifu (Nihei). In 1891 (Meiji 24), he published "Unai no Tomo," a toy picture book that depicted doll toys collected from all over the country, and he went on to popularize the hobby of playing with toys from the end of the Meiji period through the Taisho period.

Starting in the Taisho period, specialty stores selling local toys aimed at hobbyists began to appear in Tokyo, Osaka and other cities. Local toys were called "folk toys," "regional toys," "Okuma toys," "toys from various regions," etc., but around 1935 (Showa 10), they were unified under the name "local toys." After World War II, the tourism boom and folk art fashion became popular, leading to the spread of collecting as a hobby. Many new local toy types that imitate traditional products have also appeared as tourist souvenirs.

[Ryosuke Saito]

"Unai no Tomo" by Seifu Shimizu (1891, Geisodo) " "Japanese Folk Toys" by Takeo Takei (1930, Chiheisha Shobo) " "Dictionary of Folk Toys" edited by Ryosuke Saito (1971, Tokyodo Publishing)

[References] | Unai no Tomo [Supplementary information] | Main local toys of Japan

Bush warbler
The two in the center and on the left are herons from Kameido Tenjin Shrine (Tokyo). The one on the right is from Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (Fukuoka Prefecture). ©Shogakukan ">

Bush warbler

Kitahara Dolls
The photo shows a single performer. The piece is "Hidakagawairi Aika-o." Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture © Tourism Oita Public Interest Incorporated Association

Kitahara Dolls

Whaling boats and whaling cars
Whaling boat (back) and whaling cart. Kochi Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Whaling boats and whaling cars

Koga Doll
Nagasaki Prefecture © Nagasaki Tourism Federation

Koga Doll

Leaf monkey
Horseback riding monkey. Kumamoto Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Leaf monkey

Sasano carving
Otaka Poppo. Yamagata Prefecture © Shogakukan Library ">

Sasano carving

Rice field ship
Hiroshima Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Rice field ship

Tsutsumi Doll
From the left, Sendaihagi, Koi-Tachi, and Sanbaso. Miyagi Prefecture © Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Division ">

Tsutsumi Doll

Togatta Kokeshi dolls
Miyagi Prefecture © Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Division ">

Togatta Kokeshi dolls

Naruko Kokeshi Doll
Miyagi Prefecture © Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Division ">

Naruko Kokeshi Doll

Hakata Dolls
The photo is of Himiko. Fukuoka Prefecture © Fukuoka City ">

Hakata Dolls

Playing Monkey
Playing monkeys at Shibamata Taishakuten Temple. Tokyo ©Shogakukan ">

Playing Monkey

Pigeon car
Pigeon carts in Nozawa Onsen, Nagano Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Pigeon car

Pigeon whistle
A pigeon whistle made by Shimokawara ware in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture © Aomori Prefecture ">

Pigeon whistle

Hijiori Kokeshi doll
Miyagi Prefecture © Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Division ">

Hijiori Kokeshi doll

Matsue's sister
Shimane Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Matsue's sister

Miharukoma
Fukushima Prefecture ©Fukushima Prefecture Tourism and Products Association

Miharukoma

Miharu Paper Mache
Dancing girl (left) and Daikokuten. Fukushima Prefecture © Fukushima Prefecture Tourism and Products Association ">

Miharu Paper Mache

Insect-Cutting Bell
Yamanashi Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Insect-Cutting Bell

Neck of Fuya
Pilgrim girl Otsuru (left) and her mother Oyumi (right) from "Kyosei Awa no Naruto". Tokushima Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Neck of Fuya

Yajiro Kokeshi
Miyagi Prefecture © Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Division ">

Yajiro Kokeshi

Yawata Horse
Aomori Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Yawata Horse

Making a paper dog
Edo-period dog paper mache. Tokyo ©Shogakukan ">

Making a paper dog

Painting the Imado dolls
Tokyo ©Shogakukan ">

Painting the Imado dolls

Painting the Quail Car
Quail cart at Kunomine Kannon. Miyazaki Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Painting the Quail Car

Painting Koga dolls
Nagasaki Prefecture © Nagasaki Tourism Federation

Painting Koga dolls

Painting Tsutsumi dolls
Miyagi Prefecture © Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Division ">

Painting Tsutsumi dolls

Hakata doll painting
Fukuoka Prefecture © Fukuoka City ">

Hakata doll painting

Toys mentioned in "Moritsada Mangako"
Kite (Kami-tobi) and Top (Koma). Volume 28, by Kitagawa Morisada, copy held at the National Diet Library .

Toys mentioned in "Moritsada Mangako"

"Friends of Unai"
A collection of pictures introducing traditional toys from all over Japan. It includes Fushimi dolls from Kyoto (right) and Sasano carvings from Yamagata (left). It took 34 years to complete the collection, from the first edition in 1891. ©Shogakukan ">

"Friends of Unai"

Dainyudo
Mie Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Dainyudo

Yellow crucian carp
Tochigi Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Yellow crucian carp

Goldfish Lantern
Yamaguchi Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Goldfish Lantern

Rice-eating rat
Ishikawa Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Rice-eating rat

Sasebo top
Nagasaki Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Sasebo top

Triangular Daruma
Niigata Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Triangular Daruma

Paper Mache Toys from Tottori
Shojo mask. Tottori Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Paper Mache Toys from Tottori

The shrine's name
Shimane Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

The shrine's name

Chinchin Horse
Okinawa Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Chinchin Horse

Tsugaru sesame seeds
Aomori Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Tsugaru sesame seeds

Tsuyama's Tsuchitenjin Shrine
Okayama Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Tsuyama's Tsuchitenjin Shrine

Nogomi Clay Dolls
Saga Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Nogomi Clay Dolls

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

日本各地で古くから手作りでつくられ、それぞれの土地で親しまれてきた玩具。ほとんどが江戸時代から、明治期にかけて発生したもので、その土地の生活風俗など郷土色を反映している。多くは旧藩当時の習俗を残す城下町などを中心に発達した古い型の伝承玩具群で、明治期以後の新しい材料と機械的な製作技法による近代玩具とは区別される。近代玩具に圧倒されて廃絶したものも少なくないが、現在全国に散在している数は約3000種といわれる。

［斎藤良輔］

特徴

材料は土、木、竹、藁(わら)、紙、布、糸など、明治期以前から存在し、生活周辺から比較的たやすく入手できる安価なものが用いられる。製作は手作りで、伝統的な技術と着想とがみられ、民芸品としての個性がある。内容的には子供向きの遊び道具的なもののほかに、民間信仰やその土地の生活習俗と結び付いたものが多い。神社や寺院の祭礼縁日、門前市などで売られるものが目だち、いずれも安産、子育て、悪病災難除(よ)け、開運出世、招福長寿、商売繁盛、豊作祈願などの縁起物や、マスコット的性格をもったものが多い。なかには神社から授与される護符的色彩がことに強く、玩具らしくないものまで含まれている。また3月、5月の節供飾りや、四季の年中行事にちなんだものがみられ、季節感に富んでいる。ことに節供行事に付随してさまざまな人形類が生まれ、質量ともに郷土玩具の中核となっている。

　紙、土製のものは、おもに城下町やその周辺に多く産出される。なぜなら、そういう地域では和紙が多く使われ、反故(ほご)紙類が玩具材料として廃物利用できることや、また町作りの瓦(かわら)焼の影響などがあげられる。土人形製作が全盛期を迎えた江戸末期には、その産地だけでも全国で100か所余りに上った。それらは鎖国300年の太平が生んだ産物でもあった。木製のものは、多く山間部で発達した。いずれも手作り独特の美があり、種類も豊富で、造形にも各地で変化がある。素朴な材料を巧みに用いてつくる、技術と着想が生んだこれらの作品は、日本の伝承的な民族玩具として海外にも紹介され、高く評価されている。

［斎藤良輔］

歴史

日常生活や流通機構が、地域的に限定されていた封建時代には、玩具もそのほとんどが各地の城下町を中心とした地方色を帯び、いわば郷土玩具そのものであった。江戸中期を過ぎると、古い習俗に興味をもち、各地にみられる伝承的な手遊びおもちゃ類を通し、古俗を学ぼうとする関心も生まれてきた。『骨董集(こっとうしゅう)』（山東京伝著）、『嬉遊笑覧(きゆうしょうらん)』（喜多村信節(きたむらのぶよ)著）、『守貞漫稿(もりさだまんこう)』（喜田川(きたがわ)守貞著）などの考証随筆類が登場してきたのも、その表れである。

　明治期に入ると、この種の玩具類は近代玩具の進歩に押されてしだいに後退し、子供の遊び道具としての生命を失っていくが、それと入れ替わりに、成人層による趣味愛好運動が台頭してきた。これは当時の欧米心酔主義に反発して、日本古来の伝承玩具に郷愁を感じることからおこった。その指導的役割を務めた代表者の一人が、東京の玩具研究家、清水晴風(しみずせいふう)（仁兵衛）である。彼は1891年（明治24）全国各地の人形玩具を採集して描いた玩具画集『うなゐの友』を発行したのをはじめ、明治末期から大正時代にかけて愛玩趣味を広めた。

　大正期から東京、大阪などに趣味家相手の郷土玩具の専門店も登場した。郷土玩具は「土俗玩具」「地方玩具」「大供玩具」「諸国玩具」などとよばれたが、1935年（昭和10）ごろ「郷土玩具」の名称に統一された。第二次世界大戦後は観光ブーム、民芸調の流行などから収集趣味も普及している。また伝統的製品を模倣した観光土産(みやげ)の新興郷土玩具類も多く出現している。

［斎藤良輔］

『清水晴風著『うなゐの友』（1891・芸艸堂）』▽『武井武雄著『日本郷土玩具』（1930・地平社書房）』▽『斎藤良輔編『郷土玩具辞典』（1971・東京堂出版）』

[参照項目] | うなゐの友[補完資料] | 日本のおもな郷土玩具

鷽
中央と左の二つが亀戸天神社（東京都）の鷽。右が太宰府天満宮（福岡県）の鷽©Shogakukan">

鷽

北原人形
写真は一人遣い。演目は『日高川入相花王』。大分県中津市©公益社団法人ツーリズムおおいた">

北原人形

鯨舟・鯨車
鯨舟（写真奥）と鯨車。高知県©Shogakukan">

鯨舟・鯨車

古賀人形
長崎県©一般社団法人長崎県観光連盟">

古賀人形

木の葉猿
馬乗り猿。熊本県©Shogakukan">

木の葉猿

笹野彫り
お鷹ぽっぽ。山形県©小学館ライブラリー">

笹野彫り

田面船
広島県©Shogakukan">

田面船

堤人形
左から、先代萩、鯉担ぎ、三番叟。宮城県©宮城県観光課">

堤人形

遠刈田こけし
宮城県©宮城県観光課">

遠刈田こけし

鳴子こけし
宮城県©宮城県観光課">

鳴子こけし

博多人形
写真は卑弥呼。福岡県©福岡市">

博多人形

弾き猿
柴又帝釈天の弾き猿。東京都©Shogakukan">

弾き猿

鳩車
野沢温泉の鳩車。長野県©Shogakukan">

鳩車

鳩笛
弘前市、下川原焼の鳩笛。青森県©青森県">

鳩笛

肘折こけし

松江の姉様

三春駒

三春張子

虫切り鈴

撫養の首でこ

弥治郎こけし

八幡馬

犬張り子の製作

今戸人形の絵付け

うずら車の絵付け

古賀人形の絵付け

堤人形の絵付け

博多人形の絵付け

『守貞漫稿』に記された玩具
凧（紙鳶）とこま（独楽）。巻28　喜田川守貞著　写国立国会図書館所蔵">

『守貞漫稿』に記された玩具

『うなゐの友』

大入道

黄鮒

金魚提灯

米喰い鼠

佐世保こま

三角達磨

鳥取の張り子玩具

大社のじょうき

ちんちん馬

津軽のずぐりごま

津山の土天神

能古見の土人形

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