Momiji-Gari

Nicole Turner made Momiji-Gari Doll(left side)
Juls Burrup made Momiji-Gari doll( right side)

This doll's name is Momiji-Gari. Momiji in Japanese means maple leaf tree. The Autumn is very beautiful in Japan as the leaves change colos.This doll is a doll of autumn.It represents the Japanese pasttime of going out in autum to view the autumn colors.

Many people go far away to see the autumn colors . At night time, the trees are lit and the color of the maple trees look even more beautiful.

Okinawa

Laura Connor made this Okinawa doll
This doll's name is Okinawa. The southern most Japanse Islands are named off her. It differs quite significanth from the early hairstlyes found in Honshu making Islands.

Temari

Carol Mulligan made

Temari

This doll’s name is “Temari”. She is holding a Temari ball.

Temari balls originated in China and introduced to Japan at the end of Heian Period (749 – 1185). Royal families played with Temari balls (They were used for Kickball).
From the beginning of Edo Period (1603 -1867), Temari balls were made by mothers and grand mothers for their children and grandchildren to play with. Historically they were made from the remnants of old Kimonos. As rime moved on traditional Temari balls became an art, with the functional stitching more and more decorative and detailed, until the balls displayed very intricate embroidery.

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Katsuyama

Melissa Sandvic made this doll


This doll's name is " Katsuyama". Originally, Katsuyama was the name of a Geisha's hairstyle. The hairstyle became popular among ordinary women in the Meiji period.

She wears a " fukusa" whish is a paper tacked in her Obi. We wear a fukusa for tea ceremony when the host receives guests. It is used to wipe tea utensils.

Guest class

Daniel and his brother, James, came to my guest class today. Daniel finished making his dolls. They look cool. James made a Temari doll. It turned out well. They ate Miso-Katsu which my husband, Koji, cooked for them. We went to the Mino lantern museum and the paper museum in Mino after lunch. We also went to the sword museum in Seki. We had a great time together. James bought some beautiful paper in Mino. So did I.

James made Temari. Daniel made Renjishi.

Daniel

James

Oiran

Oiran was the name of a prostitute of the highest level. The name Oiran was used by only the highest ranking prostitutes. They learned to perform tea ceremonies, to play the “shamisen”, and write poetry. They were also skilled at “ Igo”, a type of Japanese Chess.
There were rules for spending a night with an Oiran. Just for the privilege of getting to know her came at a high price. This money was paid to the “Ochaya” which hired out Geishas.
Whenever customers met with an Oiran, they had to sit at her feet while she sat on an elevated platform. This was a sign of her higher rank over them.
When first meeting with Oiran, the customer sat at a far distance from the Oiran. No conversation, food, or drink was to be had. The customer was being scrutinized during this time. If he was judged worthy, he would be allowed another meeting. It was important for the customer to show their wealth. They did this by hiring numerous Geishas to impress the Oiran.
At the second meeting, the Oiran inched just a little closer to the customer. Still no interaction at this time.
Before the third meeting, a bowl and chopsticks were prepared with the customer’s name on them.
Finally, at the third meeting the customer was allowed to be intimate with Oiran. This privilege though cost an enormous amount of money.
After being intimate with his Oiran, he was not permitted to sleep with any other Oirans. If he tried, it would be reported back to his original Oiran.
On the occasion that the customer came on the same day as another customer, he was not allowed to sleep with her. He did though stay the night with an Oiran in training, though intimacy was not allowed. The usual high fee of sleeping with the Oiran was still charged.

Carol Hasegawa made this doll. She was my former student. She visited me and made this doll. She is a teacher in Hawaii and also goes to graduate school.

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Ogaki Minami High School Students

I went to Ogaki Minami High School to teach how to make a bookmarker. They will go to Utah to improve their English. They will stay with host families. They made bookmarkers as a present. Some students added their own style for each bookmarker!! They are great students. I really enjoyed making bookmarkers with them.

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and see the pictures of Ogaki Minami High School students and myself.

Kurama-jishi

Jen Bronco made this doll. This is a doll for high level class. She is the first person who learned how to make this doll from me. It turned out well. I think that it's beautiful.

She is Yoshitsune's wife whose name is Shizukagozen. Yoritomo who was Yoshitsune's older brother stormed off to Yoshitsune's residence in Kyoto to destroy his younger brother. Yoshitsune couldn't take her with him. She is holding his spear and thinking of him.

Samurai and Yaegaki hime

Christina made Samurai doll and Samurai's wife doll. They look like they are a wonderful couple.

Today was very hot, but there were many students in class. Today was the last class for most of my students. Thank you for coming to my class this year. I will miss all of you. Please remember me when you look at your dolls. Keep in touch...

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Yaegaki-Hime

This doll’ name is Yaegaki Hime. (Princess Yaegaki) Princess Yaegaki was a heroine of a traditional puppet performance called Ningyou Joruri. The title of the performance is called " Honcho Nijushiko".
Princess Yaegaki is the character's name based on the story about Princess Kiku who was a daughter of Kenshin.
There were two famous Samurai lords named Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. Their relationship became bad because of a special helmet which was an important treasure for Takeda Shingen. He received it from a god named Suwa Myojin in his dream.
There was a legend about this special helmet. When a samurai wore it to battle, he would always win. Whenever a samurai wore the helmet, 808 foxes would appear to protect the samurai from danger. The foxes posed as servants from the gods. A miracle would happen when he was in trouble. However, Kenshin borrowed and kept it at Suwa castle, even though it was a very important treasure to Takeda. It was the beginning of the fight between them. Around that time, a young man called Suisaku was living and working at Suwa castle which was Kenshin’s home as gardener.
Suisaku was trying to return the helmet back to Takeda. Suisaku was Takeda’s son. He disguised himself as a gardener to trick Kenshin to return the helmet to Takeda. His real name was Katsuyori but Kenshin only knew by the name Suisaku. One day, Kenshin’s daughter, Yaegaki Hime was asked to steal the helmet for Suisaku. At that time, she was supposed to have an arrangement marriage to Katsuyori( Suisaku) When she realized that it was her fiancée Katsuyori, instead of Suisaku ( the gardener), she fell in love with him. (During that time, there were arrangement marriages and couples didn’t meet each other until their wedding ceremony) Later, Kenshin promoted Suisaku to Samurai from a gardener. However, he noticed that he was Katsuyori. So, he sent him to the battle base in Shiojiri to have him killed. He also sent an assassin after him. Princess Yaegaki felt grief when she discovered the news and wanted to tell Katsuyori.
Later that evening, she decided to find Katsuyori. But the lake was frozen and she couldn’t use a boat. She wouldn’t be able to catch up with Katsuyori because she couldn’t run fast.
“I can’t stand here and wait for them to kill him.” She thought.
“I want to have wings”
“I want to fly”
She instinctively reached for the helmet, and suddenly fire appeared and she was able to see around the lake and a new road appeared for her to cross.
Katsuyori was saved. Later, Takeda and Kenshin made peace, and Princess Yaegaki and Katsuyori got married and live happily ever after.

Emily made this doll. This doll is her second doll. It's very beautiful!! Eveyone made beautiful dolls. Please check pictures... 2007 June Class
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Ren-jishi

Renjishi is a famous kabuki dance based on this legend.

The spirit of Father Shishi (white –hair) and Son- Shishi (red –hair)

The father pushed his son down into the bottom of the valley to test his strength. His son was encouraged by his father’s figure reflected in the water. He quickly climbed the cliff. His father was glad to see this and they danced together.

Father Shishi--- David made this doll

Son Shishi-- Daniel made this doll

My students made Samurai doll, Sado-Okesa doll, Shishi-doll, Sado-okesa doll and Temari in June.

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