Folk clay dolls deeply rooted in Hakata
Imajuku dolls are traditional clay dolls that have been passed down in Imajuku, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City, and were first made by the founder, Seisuke Ohashi, who trained at Mitsuya, a doll and lantern shop in Hakata, before opening the festival doll workshop, Hitosei, in Imajuku in 1905. Since then, they have been popular decorations for local events and festivals.
The technique of using unglazed clay and finishing the work entirely by hand, including drying, firing and coloring, has been passed down unchanged since the company was founded.
The subjects are very diverse, including Otafuku masks, Hina dolls, and the classic Hakata doll Sasano Saizō. The most famous of these is the monkey mask given at the Koshin Festival at Sarutahiko Shrine in Sawara Ward, Fukuoka City.
It is an auspicious item associated with "magasaru" (the evil spirits will go away), and is displayed at the entrance of a house in hopes of good health and protection from misfortune. This time we will introduce a special red and white monkey mask that is displayed on celebratory occasions.
