Hello Reader.

Let us introduce you to another special event also taking place at the Kyoto Museum of Crafts & Design.

Most of you are probably familiar with the Tripadvisor, the world’s largest and most-visited travel review website. People know well that the Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine, with its familiar Senbon-torii (Thousand torii gates), is also very popular with foreign visitors to Japan. And thanks to this, it has also now become famous among Japanese tourists as a popular year-round tourist attraction in Kyoto City.

By the way, have you ever heard of ‘Fushimi dolls’? The Fushimi doll is one of Kyoto’s traditional crafts, preserved by the potter near the Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto. During the late Edo period (around 1750-1850), these Fushimi dolls reached their peak. Many potteries lined the Fushimi Kaido Road at that time, and Fushimi dolls were said to have been made at these potteries.

Currently, only one pottery, Tanka, established in 1750 is producing these products, and the tradition is still being maintained. The Fushimi doll is also said a prototype for all clay dolls in Japan. Once molded in clay and fired in a kiln, Fushimi dolls are painted with white pigments and particulate paints.

Dear international visitors who are planning to travel to Japan.

If you have plans to visit Japan and the Fushimi Inari in Kyoto next time , we recommend that you will visit to the pottery “Tanka” as a next destination. The process and content of the studio’s work may vary depending on the season. But Fushimi dolls are carefully selected from 2,000 different casts. All dolls are also humorous and they are all cute pieces, with designs rooted in folklore and legend. I am sure you will find your favorite Fushimi doll. It will definitely be a different experience to the Fushimi Inari shrine.

For foreigners staying in Japan.

Now the Museum of Crafts & Design is holding a special exhibition on “Fushimi dolls”.

　 〇 Period: 26 July (Tue) – 28 August (Sun), 2022 　*Closed on 23 (Tue) and 24 (Wed) August.

〇　Opening hours: 09:00-17:00 (Entry until 16:30)

　 〇　Venue: MOCAD Gallery, B1F, Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design.

　 〇　Admission : Free

　In Japan, only a few days remain of the summer holiday period.

　We are looking forward to welcoming you. Some of the exhibits are available for purchase at the exhibition. Also available for sale online.　(Japanese Only)　

　Written and translated by Yutaka Sato : The Museum of Crafts & Design.

　Photo courtesy of Ms. Rinko Kishimoto.： The Museum of Crafts & Design.