Mame Tenjin
Mame Tenjin
Mame Tenjin
Mame Tenjin
Mame Tenjin

Mame Tenjin

Regular price¥3,900
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The Mame Tenjin is a small unglazed clay doll depicting Tenjin, the deity of learning, dressed in a striking red kimono with a gentle expression. Made using simple hand-painting techniques, this palm-sized figure carries an endearing presence, almost like a protective charm.

In Tottori Prefecture, where Tenjin worship remains strong, it is customary to display scrolls and figurines of Tenjin to pray for the growth and success of boys. Additionally, red has long been believed to ward off smallpox and illness, making this figurine a symbol of both protection and good fortune. Thoughtfully crafted, the Mame Tenjin quietly watches over daily life, carrying with it a deep sense of tradition and care.

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traditional toys expressing tottori folklore

Yanagiya Reproduct is a project by craft shop Cocorostore to revive the legacy of Yanagiya, a beloved Tottori studio run by the Tanaka family, which made traditional folk toys based on local folklore and customs from 1928 to 2014. The more than 50 different folk toys they made, which were once common in Tottori, included hina dolls, festival masks, and hariko modeled after gods and ghosts of folktales. Thanks to Yanagiya Reproduct, artisans are bringing these Tottori traditions to life again, all handmade from wood, clay, and washi, using traditional techniques passed down through the Tanaka family.

Part of tottori's heritage

Second-generation artisans Kinji and Miyako Tanaka took over Yanagiya from their predecessors, but after many years Miyako-san’s eyesight deteriorated and Yanagiya closed its doors in 2014. Today however, she and Kinji-san teach the artisans of Yanagiya Reproduct the techniques for making some of the toys which they produced at Yanagiya. COCOROSTORE’s Nobuhiro Tanaka is gradually increasing the number of items they can reissue, using his network of craftspeople, from potters, to woodworkers, to painters. After passing Kinji and Miyako Tanaka’s strict checks, a number of folk toys have been reissued.

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