Shiokumi

Andy made this Shiokumi doll.

Around the Heian Period,　a man named Aiwara Yukihiro betrayed the government. The Emperor was outraged and for his punishment, Yukihiro was banished to a remote island. He was sent there for three years.
While on the island he met two beautiful girls named Matsukaze and Murasame, whom he fell in love with.
Matsukaze and Murasame were “Shiokumi”. The name reflected their jobs which were to carry buckets of salt water. The salt water was later refined into salt. “Shiokumi” literally means “to carry salt water” It’s also the name of a traditional Japanese dance.
After Yukihiro 3 years of banishment were finished, he was permitted to return to the capital. He promised before leaving to return for both Matsukaze and Murasame someday. He wanted them to live on the mainland with him. Sadly, this promise went unfulfilled due to his untimely demise.　
　The sisters were greatly saddened by his death. They hung up the hat and hunting jacket he had left behind on a pine tree where they cried. While remembering him, they danced wearing his hat and jacket, while also carrying their water buckets.

Making sword demonstration

Seki is famous for making swords and cutlery. We export cutleries to the world. The history of making swords in Seki is over 700 years. Swords were used for wars a long time ago, but people buy them as decorations or to use for Martial arts nowadays. Swords are very beautiful art. Hollywood moves used swords made in Seki.

This time, I had a doll class in the morning and we went to see the sword demonstration.

Festivals

There are many festivals all of Japan around this time. We had cutlery festival in Seki and Japanese paper lantern festival in Mino.


I had a doll class on the 12th. My students came to Seki on the 11th and we went to see the sword making demonstration. And then, we went to see martial arts. While we were watching the martial arts, I saw some of my students. So, I suddenly decided to have dinner with them. We enjoyed shopping and eating festival food. At dinner time, 12 people came to my house. We ordered pizza and I made Indian curry, salad & brownies. It was not enough food for everyone, but all of us were very happy to be together. After dinner, we went to see Japanese paper lanterns to Mino. This year, I didn't make a lantern for the festival. One of my students, who was eager to make a lantern, left Japan last summer. So, I decided not to make a lantern this year. I will make a lantern with someone if I have that kind of student again. : ) But, it takes a long time to make a very nice lantern. The most difficult part would be to think of a unique design, I think. After that, the key would be time,how long we can work on one lantern. Everyone is busy, and I don't want to work on it alone. Anyway, the lanterns were very beautiful on the traditional street in Mino.

The next day, I had a class with 6 people. Some of them stayed at my hosue and some of them stayed at a inn in Seki. Everyone made beautiful dolls. People came from Osaka, Kobe,Takayama and Kani. It was a trip for them. I really enjoyed the class. I think that I will have a class when we have these festivals again.

If you would like to come to Seki in Japan, this time would be perfect time!! Come to Seki and join my class!! You would have a wounderful time!!

If you would like to see the pictures of lanterns...

http://washitoningyou.spaces.live.com

Japanese paper lantern festival

Doll Class 2008 has started

Andy made Tenaraiko and Temari


I had a long break time from a doll class. The weather has become cooler, so I have started having a class at home again. I had 4 people in a class. 2 people are frist time to make a Japanese doll, Temari. Other 2 people made advanced dolls. ( Kurodabushi, Tenaraiko and Temari.

I am looking forward to having more doll classes as the weather gets even cooler. It is easier to hold classes in the winter because the doll room is on the third floor of my house. So in the summer it becomes very hot. I hope to be able to have at least 2 classes next month, 3 if the weather is nice.

September Class

Hi, everyone

I am going to start a class again. If you have time, please come.

Place: Seki Gifu ( Japan)
Date: 28th of September ( Alreday full)
4th of October
If you would like to know the detail things, please check
http://washitoningyou.spaces.live.com

Or email me
higashiyachisako@yahoo.com

etsy shop

One of my best friends who lives in Nagoya suggetsed me that I open etsy shop to sell my dolls and Japanese paper long time ago. But I didn't know how to start.Then, many emails from people overseas interested in making Japanese paper dolls made me open my etsy shop immediately. " Please teach me how to make a doll" " Your students make such beautiful dolls and I would like to make them too". Hummm, can I teach them only though email? They need deatail instructions. So, I started making eBook of Temari. It took me for a long time to complete the eBook. Then, some people bought Temari eBook and made them. They were very happy with my eBook and I'm glad that they liked it.

Dwita, who lives in Indnesia, made 2 Temari dolls. First, She made Temari doll( right one) with Temari kit that I sold to her and then she cut papers and made the second one. ( left one)

My etsyshop

http:// Japanesepaperdoll.etsy.com

Musashino Benkei ( Kanjincho)

Heather made this Benkei Doll

This doll’s name is Musashino Benkei. He worked for Miyamoto Yoshisune. The time was during the Kamakura period. At large war was being fought named “Genpei no gassen.” The battle was between the armies Genji and Heike,

Yoritomo was the leader in the Genji army. Yoshitsune was his younger brother who was a leader under Yoritomo. Due to Yoshitsune’s leadership, the war was about to be won. Yoshitsune was a favorite of the Emperor. This also outraged his brother Yoritomo, who was consumed with jealousy.

Yoritomo stormed off to Yoshitsune’s residence in Kyoto to destroy his younger brother. Yoshitsune, Benkei and their samurais fled. As a result, Yoritomo built check-in gates to discover their whereabouts.

Benkei, Yoshitsune and his men disguised themselves as Yamabushi monks. There monks were not required to check-in at the gates. They were allowed to travel and teach their religion. The guards at all the check-points had become aware of Yoshitsune’s disguise though.

Yoshitsune, Ｂenkei and his men were stopped at one of the check-points. They asked Benkei to read aloud the “Kanjin-choo”. This was a document with all the temple donations recorded on it. Of course they had no “Kanjin- choo”, so Benkei pulled out a blank scroll and pretended to read. They were then allowed passage。Yoshitsune and his men relived.

At this moment, one of the guards recognized Yoshitsune. One of the samurais suggested killing this man and moving on. Benkei instead had another idea. He struck his master with a metal rod and threatened to leave him behind. This was done in an attempt to fool the guards since no man would hit his master. Some stories suggest the guards were fooled, other say they were filled with compassion at this attempt to protect Yoshitsune. Either way, they were allowed to proceed.

This scene is popular in many Kabuki performances.

Oiran Dochu

Kamuro: Rory and Shayne made


Oiran and Kamuro.
Oiran is the name of the highest ranking prostitutes. Kamuro is the name of the girls who worked for Oiran and leaned to become Oiran. Some Kamuro would travel with the Oiran when going to meet a customer. Other employees of the Oiran would also accompany her on these trips know and "Oiran-dochu."

It was in 1751～1764.

Koyuki

Sandara made this doll.


Her name is Koyuki. The name of her hair styke is Bead-tied. It was in fashion in the 1680's. The hari left from the forelock was tied in the middle on the back, at the time generally with a flat paper braid.

Okaji

Chelsie made this doll.

Andy made this doll.


Her name is “ Okaji”. She fell in love with an actor, and she really loved him. She thought that he didn’t love her as much as she loved, but he also loved her very much. The play was over and he left for somewhere else. He said that he would write to her, but after while no letter came. She gave up hope that he still loved her. After a month, she got a letter from him, and he said that he will quit the play and he is coming back to her.
She is reading the love letter from him.