✳︎ Saitama Prefecture Folk Toy: Hanno Maruki-bori Shishimai (Lion Dance) ✳︎ Craftsman: Hiroaki Okawara ✳︎ Sales Location: Mirakudo (Closed) ✳︎ Size (approx.) ・Early Type (Large) Height: 22cm Width: 8cm Thickness: 9cm ・Late Type (Small) Height: 14.5cm Width: 4.2cm Thickness: 4.2cm This "Shishimai" folk toy is derived from the lion dance performed during the Hanno Hayashi at the autumn festival of Suwa Shrine, which has been traditionally held in Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture. The dance involves drumming and the performance of the lion dance. Every year, this festival takes place on September 26th, with the lion dance being performed in the five towns of central Hanno, and dedicated in each town. On the following day, the 27th, the main festival proceeds through the town before heading to Suwa Hachiman Shrine, where the lion dance is performed in front of the shrine to pray for national peace, the eradication of evil spirits, and a bountiful harvest. It is said that the festival was a complex offering, both in terms of dance and music. (※Currently suspended※) This Shishimai is composed of three figures: the male lion, the female lion, and the child lion. It was an indispensable part of New Year's events and village festivals, where prayers were offered for the good health of children, the warding off of evil spirits, and the safety of the household. It seems that it was popular as a religious offering toy. This is a valuable primary source that supplements the "memories of the land" that are difficult to convey with just the toy itself, and is ideal for collections, research materials, and exhibition explanations. It is a rare toy because it is easily scattered with history and the number of existing ones is small. ◎⤵︎ Search Terms Kakubei-jishi, Shishimai (Lion Dance), Gedo, Arakan-zo (Arhat Statue), Somin Shorai, General's Marker, Gonbee Naruko, Akita Souvenir, Bountiful Harvest, Exorcism, Kamagami (Kiln God), Hibuse, Fire God, Hanno City, Mingei (Folk Craft), Flea Market, Unai no Tomo, Kotaro Yamamoto, Seifu Shimizu, #FolkToy, Peasant Art, folk toy, Sasara, Sasaragaku, Fire Prevention, Disaster Prevention, Evil Warding, #EvilWarding, Family Safety, Sae no Kami, Doso-jin, Disaster Prevention, Kunio Yanagita, Hibuse-jishi, Dondoro, Rakan-zo (Arhat Statue), Mukuri Kokuri, Mokuri Kokuri, Mukuri Kokuri, Wooden Buddhist Statue, Esoteric Sculpture, Enku, Mountain God, Koba-butsu, Yokai Toy, Kiji Toy, White Birch Craft, Underground General, Maruki-bori Ningyo (Log Carving Doll), Kurozuka Ningyo, Out of Mingei, Peasant Art, Folk Craft, Souvenir Kokeshi, Creative Kokeshi, Evil Warding, MUJI GINZA Atelier Muji Ginza, ATELIER MUJI GINZA, ATELIER MUJI Gallery, ATELIER MUJI Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, Kishima Mountain, Otsu-e, Totem Pole