◎ Product Data • Product Name: Nagasaki Prefecture, Extinct Folk Toy, Karatsu Myojin, No. 1 Hikiyama/Katana-machi, Red Lion • Size: Approximately 7.5cm wide x 6cm deep x 12.2cm high • Material: Wood carving with color, purple hair is yarn • Maker: Yoshiji Matsueda, Nitta, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture ◎ Product Description This is a wooden folk toy of the Karatsu Myojin No. 1 Hikiyama/Katana-machi Red Lion, made by Mr. Yoshiji Matsueda of Nitta, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture. The "Hikiyama" of Karatsu Kunchi was built in 1819 by Kahei Ishizaki of Katana-machi, who was impressed by the Gion Yamakasa of Kyoto, and was dedicated to Karatsu Shrine. The "Katana-machi Red Lion," made as the first mountain, is made using the traditional "Ikkanbari" technique of hardening Japanese paper with lacquer, and weighs about 2 tons. At the time, 1750 ryo of gold was invested in the production of the Phoenix Maru! So much money was spent on the festival that the term "Sangatsu-daore" (three-month collapse) was born, meaning that people spent three months' worth of income. This work is based on the magnificent Hikiyama, and Mr. Matsueda carefully reproduced every detail with wood carving. While the real Hikiyama is made of Japanese paper and lacquer, this one is carved from wood and colored. The powerful expression of the Red Lion, the golden decorations, and the green "Tomoe" crest seen on the main body of the Hikiyama. Furthermore, the vibrant blue-purple mane hanging from the back is a wonderful accent that reminds one of the real Hikiyama. Mr. Matsueda is a very important figure in the world of Karatsu folk toys. He worked hard to revive the Karatsu folk toys, which were once on the verge of extinction, and to pass on their techniques and spirit to future generations. However, unfortunately, after his death, this type of toy disappeared again. ◎ ⤵︎ Search Terms #FolkToys #Handicrafts #Nagasaki #Karatsu #KaratsuKunchi #RedLion #Hikiyama #YoshijiMatsueda #WoodCarving #TraditionalCrafts #Sasebo #SangatsuDaore #KaheiIshizaki LionDance Mingei Kōtarō Yamamoto Seifu Shimizu #FolkToys PeasantArt folktoy folk toy EvilWarding EvilWarding FamilySafety DisasterPrevention Kunio Yanagita FirePreventionLion Dondoro WoodenBuddha MountainGod WoodChipBuddha YokaiToy KijiToy MarukiCarvingDoll KurozukaDoll OutofMingei Handicrafts SouvenirKokeshi MUJI GINZA AtelierMujiGinza ATELIER MUJI Gallery ATELIER MUJI NakagawaMasashichiShoten KishimaMountain Otsu-e