Amazing Bamboo Dolls

            In November 29th, 2013 I visited Echizen Bamboo Dolls in Fukui Perfecture. Initially, I was introduced by the many species of bamboo which is used for making the dolls. There is moso, a common Japanese bamboo. And there are also many types of bamboo in colors and shapes. From the small diameter until great diameter.  And the color were tawny, brown, till almost black. The color is natural, no color-treatment. Surprisingly, there was a kind of bamboo with crooked trunk! Actually it was my first time to see and know the type of bamboo.

Not as the another traditional culture industries, this bamboo dolls culture is included into a modern culture. It is because this culture was appeared only about 60 years ago. The history began with two brothers, seeing bamboo for making bamboo baskets and vases and then continued to make dolls out of all the extra materials. What began as a playful hobby quickly transformed into a valuable addition to the Japanese doll making tradition. And finallly Echizen Bamboo Dolls was born in the Prefecture of Fukui.

I never thought before that a tough surface of bamboo could be carved. But actually it could! Instead of carving this outer exterior to shape every doll into the same shapes and sizes, the Echizen Bamboo Dolls utilize the unique form of each bamboo stalk to determine their own figures. But for me, the uniqueness does not only come from their shapes but also from their hair, which is one of the most intricate features of these dolls. Each fiber of bamboo is splitted into pieces with not even a millimeter in thickness. Then these strands were attached to the head of the doll in thousands quantity.

The dolls usually are girls dressed in traditional Japanese attire or men with traditional soldier costumes. And there are also a shape of animals or flowers. The distinct pieces has each beauty and charm. In my opinion, this is really a great culture. For making a bamboo doll, needed some labor, time, and sincerity. The magnificent thing was produced with full-hearted work. That’s why these products were not mass-produced and went for the higher price.