Doll News Summer 2017 - 122

These boats were
being transported
to the shore for
their final sendoff.

Below: The last
blessings were made
as the boats were
sent out to sea.

Edo period, Yoshitoku is not only the oldest doll
merchant in Tokyo but was also the supplier of
51 of the 58 "Japanese Friendship Dolls." Three
generations of this ﬁrm have been involved
with these historic dolls. The 10th generation
Tokubei Yamada was the director responsible for
having the 51 dolls made. In recent years the 11th
generation (1939-2009) supervised the majority of
the repairs to the dolls sent for refurbishing. Now
the 12th generation Tokubei Yamada (1968- he
assumed the name Tokubei Yamada from Junichirou in 2010) continues to be actively involved
in the restoration of these important dolls.
After an informative presentation of the ningyo
treasures in the company's museum Masuru Aoki
surprised us with the unveiling of Miss Miyagi for whom
Yoshitoku is the caretaker. He wheeled in a metal case,
opened the latches, carefully removed a large wrapped
object which, when unveiled, revealed the most beautiful
doll looking up at us. It took my breath away. I was in awe.
I never dreamed I would be looking face to face with a
"Japanese Friendship Doll." This would prove to be one of
the major highlights of the trip.
Our next Ichimatsu encounter also had a "Japanese
Friendship Doll" connection. A subway ride to Ichihara
brought us to the doorstep of Iwamura Kenji (Shokensai III)
and his son. Kenji-san is the grandson of Shokensai I, maker of
eight of the friendship dolls. Shokensai I, already an established
Ichimatsu maker by the time of the "Friendship Dolls of 1927,"
went on to have an illustrious career, continuing to make and
reﬁne ichimtatsu-ningyô until his death. How wonderful it is
that this lineage continues to this day. While Shokensai I made
the dolls his grandson Shokensai III is frequently enlisted in the
restoration of the friendship dolls.
122

SUMMER 2017

First we visited the "gallery" to meet Kenji's son and
view some ﬁnished dolls. We were anticipating a store -
what we encountered was a small upstairs one-room tiny,
tiny apartment. The son (a former rock star) was there to
greet us. Deciding he would rather be a doll maker, he gave
up music and is learning from his father. Dolls on shelves
and on the ﬂoor - hardly room to move, but what beautiful
ichimatsu dolls. I fell in love with several, but especially an
ichimatsu boy made by Shokensai III (i.e. Iwamura Kenji).
Needless to say this doll had to come home with me. It was
the perfect memory of this ningyo trip to Japan. Knowing the
artist and visiting him personally makes this so very special.
With purchase in hand, it was time to walk over to the
studio to meet Kenji-san, the maker of my doll. Visiting
his simple studio is like walking back in time to the world
of the traditional artisan. Seated at a low table atop the
tatami mat surrounded by doll parts, heads, gofun pots,
brushes, and all sorts of implements, Kenji exempliﬁes the
life of a ningyo maker. His son works at a similar low table,
facing his father and teacher. Kenji is currently restoring

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Doll News Summer 2017