Vintage Japanese Yajirou Toy Train by Kamata Takashi
Dimensions: 3-3/4”h x 4-1/4w x 2-1/4”d
Toys and Tops of many shapes and materials have been found throughout Japan and are among the most ancient toys known.
Offered is a rare, vintage Yajirou interactive toy train, referred to as a Kisha, and is from Naruko Japan. It is intricately carved and assembled with all the necessary parts to identify it as a train, (boiler, smoke stack, and the engineer with full facial details and hat. It is painted in a veritable rainbow of colors, utilizing the Rokoru mono style of decoration using vertical stripes running around the body of the train in the usual colors of red and black to yellow, green, and purple. Its wheels turn freely as designed to enable pulling or pushing by the child. The piece is signed by the carver o the back of the train.
Condition: Excellent condition means that the piece has no cracks or repairs with fine and original details consistent with the age and standards of collectible Vintage Japanese Toys. For those who want to start or expand their collection, Japanese toys and tops continue to be a sought-after collectible highly valued artifact.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The creators of these dolls hail from the small farming village of Yajirou-machi near Kamasaki Onsen in Miyagi Prefecture, once a farming village between two, tall mountains. The kiji-shi (woodworkers), divided their time between farming and wood-craft. Those who made kokeshi in their spare time sent their wives to the nearby Kamasaki Onsen to sell their work to tourist shops and through onsens.
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Japanese Traditional Kokeshi | Yajirou-Kei (Family)
Prefecture: Miyagi
Origin:
This strain of Kokeshi is said to have been an offshoot of the Tougatta strain and is far less refined. That eventually developed into a unique style that remains today. The creators of these dolls hail from the small farming village of Yajirou-machi near Kamasaki Onsen, in Miyagi Prefecture, once a farming village between two tall mountains. The Kiji-shi (woodworkers) divided their time between farming and woodcraft. Those who made kokeshi in their spare time sent their wives to the nearby Kamasaki Onsen to sell their work to tourist shops and onsens.
Collector's note – characteristics/painting style:
The majority of this style has distinct waists, or (kubire), where the body tapers inward, with a wider, flared base similar to a kimono, thus making them very stable. The upper body usually has a hand-painted collar with horizontal stripes encircling the body, as in the Rokoru-moyo style, and vertical stripes running below the waist to the base of the doll. However, Yajirou dolls can also be found with a series of chrysanthemum petals running down the front of the body, or a branch of plum blossoms, as the only decoration. Yajirou dolls are some of the most brightly painted of the traditional family group. Utilizing a veritable rainbow of colours, from the usual red and black to green, yellow, and even blue and purple, they are available in probably the widest range of shapes. Some also have a painted beret-like feature or a bun on their heads, similarly painted with a red center spot. Less common are Yajirou who have conical hats known as Suge-Gasa. Typically seen is one lid or double eyelids and a cat or pick-shaped nose. Yajirou kokeshi have been made from cherry wood, camellia, and maple, but the preferred wood is white dogwood, (Mizuki). And finally, both Yajirou and Tougutta dolls are sometimes created with loose rings circling the waists. Carved from the same wood as the body, which is a very meticulous method! This treatment is referred to as 'Yamiyo' style kokeshi.
Leading, Craftsmen:
Niiyama, Keimi, 1925, (Shirabu, Yamagata) -
Master Niiyama, Keimi
Niiyama Fukuo, 1922, (Yajiro Shironishi, Miyagi) - Master: Niiyama, Fukutaro
Niiyama, Sakyo - No additional published information
Niiyama, Sanai (Master) - No additional published information
Oizumi, Kiyoni - No additional published information
Sato Tatsuro, 1928, (Yajiro Shiroishi , Miyagi) - Master: Sato, Imasaburo
Sato Yoshiaki, 1937, (Shiroishi Miyagi) - Master: Sato, Tatsuo
Sato, Koichi, 1936, (Shiroishi, Miyagi) - Master:Hamatsu, Heisaburo
Sato Masao, 1932, (Shiroishi, Miyagi) - Master: Sato, Tsugio