UMETSU SHU ”Yabase Doll Hereditary Association“
ーーProfile
Born in Akita City, Akita
Umetsu has personal interest in local dolls, so he collects them from all over the country. In 2010, he renovated his own house and opened his own local doll museum.
As he collected dolls, he met the last Yabase doll inheritor, Tomo Michikawa.
In 2014 Mrs. Tomo unfortunately passed away, leaving no one to inherit Yabase Dolls. Then Umetsu gathered volunteers to preserve and pass on Yabase dolls, and established the “Yabase Doll Hereditary Association” to promote the development of Yabase dolls.
ーーWhat is Yabase Doll?
It is said that Yabase Dolls have been established around the middle of the Edo period in Yabase, Akita City. In this area, Tenjin dolls were displayed when a boy was born and Hina dolls were displayed when a girl was born. Tenjin dolls were bought and displayed at the Tenjin Festival at Sugawara Shrine.
Since they are “local(folk) toys”, keeping the cost affordable is important. Therefore various efforts have been made to reduce costs, for example dolls are designed to display face front so the backs of most dolls are kept uncolored. It is said there are more than 500 different molds, and they still retain their simple colors and gentle expressions.
Yabase Doll Hereditary Association has created up to 100 new molds and hosts painting experience workshops to share the simple-but-gentle look Yabase Dolls publicly.
PICK UP!
ーーWhite Akita Dog Yabase Doll
This is an Akita dog using the “dog” mold inherited from Tomo Michikawa(the last Yabase Doll artist). The coloring is simple, but the Akita dog has a cute, yet dignified expression. The characteristic curled tail of the Akita dog has also been reproduced. Traditional coloring is done with nikawa (glue), gofun (whitewash), and pigments, but here the coloring is done with acrylic paints, which have brighter colors. Great interior for your entryway or your desk, also a great gift for the Year of the Dog.
