Studio Takes Pride in Kokeshi Dolls
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Business cards, flyers, invitations and more! Contact printshop.stripes.com 042-552-2510 (extension77315) 227-7315 VOLUME 13 NO. 21 MAY 16 − MAY 22, 2019 SUBMIT STORIES TO: [email protected] STRIPESOKINAWA.COM FACEBOOK.COM/STRIPESPACIFIC FREE Studio takes pride in Kokeshi dolls STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHOJI KUDAKA, which have become a popular part- have a long history in the country many traditional kokeshi STRIPES OKINAWA ing gift for PCSing U.S. servicemem- and are thought to have originated dolls have a cylindrical bers. A cloth that wraps around the in Miyagi Prefecture during the torso with a big head, Ryukyuyu okeshi dolls are a common doll unravels to reveal farewell mes- Edo Period (1603-1868), according Miyrabi Kokeshi have a sweep-weep- item carried in many sou- sages from the recipient’s coworkers to The Japan Times. It is because of ing profile with a small headd on top.top. venir shops around Japan. K or friends. this history, that the dolls are often Similarly, their small faces hhaveave a Some are called “Sayonara Dolls,” The cylindrical wooden dolls considered a signature craft of the bright smile and distinct eyesyes set-set- Tohoku region. ting them apart from the myste-myste- Did you know that Okinawa rious countenance with thinlyhinly also has its own kind of drawn facial features of tthehe kokeshi dolls? mainland dolls. Dressed iinn “Ryukyu Miyrabi traditional Okinawan attire,, Kokeshi,” are Okinawan the small dolls are modeled versions of the popular after ordinary people from wooden dolls. the olden days including Manufactured at a stu- classical dancers or fish dio run by Taiki Okinawa, a facility for disabled persons merchants carrying their on the island, the dolls are sig- catch in baskets upon nificantly different from their their head. mainland counterparts. Taiki’s studio provides Just 20 centimeters (7.87 work opportunities for inches) in height there is disabled people to manu- a significant difference in facture these unique dolls. their silhouette. While SEE KOKESHI ON PAGE 2 INSIDE INFO INSIDE INFO Congratulate a 2019 grad! Our annual Grad Tab high- lighting Pacific DODEA high schools and their graduating classes will appear in the May 30 edition of Stripes Okinawa. For just $19, customize your own message that will appear in this keepsake edition. What you need: • A photo of the graduate PLAY • Graduate’s first name • Your name, as you want it to appear in print (e.g. “Suzy & Steve” or “Mom & Dad”) • A congratulatory message of no more than 20 words • The graduate’s high school May 21-22 on Okinawa Send info by May 20, 5 p.m. to PacificGrad@stripes. BALL com and a Stripes representa- tive will follow-up with you right Japanese pro teams to6 play& 8 away. ges 4- PagesPa 4-6 & 8 Photo by Jun Sakahira, Stripes Okinawa 2 STRIPES OKINAWA A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATIONUBLICATION MAY 16 − MAY 22, 2019 Max D. Lederer Jr. Publisher Lt. Col. Richard E. McClintic Commander Joshua M Lashbrook Chief of Staff Michael Davidson Revenue Director Chris Verigan Engagement Director Marie Woods Publishing and Media Design Director Chris Carlson Publishing and Media Design Manager Kentaro Shimura Production Manager : Rie Miyoshi KOKESHI Dolls TAIKI OKINAWA Engagement Manager Scott Wheeler GPS COORDINATES: N 26.115799, E 127.717274 Okinawa Area Manager DIRECTIONS: Take the Okinawa Expressway. Take exit No. 1. Go south Denisse Rauda made by hand on Route 82. Make a left to Route 507 and go south. Make a right to Publishing and Media Design Editor Route 331 and go south. Make a right and go North on Route 15. Taiki Publishing and Media Design Writers is on the right. ChiHon Kim EMAIL: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 paint their own authentic Oki- [email protected] Shoji Kudaka TEL: 098-851-7522 Takahiro Takiguchi nawan kokeshi doll for them- FAX: 098-851-9522 Layout Designers “We have been manufac- selves. Instructions are given in WEBSITE: Ayako Kamio http://www.okisin.jp/taiki/www.okisin.jp/taiki/ Yukiyo Oda turing the kokeshi dolls for 47 Japanese only, so bring along a kokesi-shoukai2.pdfdf Yuko Okazaki years,” said Takahiro Shinzato, friend who can speak Japanese COST: The hands-on-on workshop foforr dollmadollmaking costs 1,500 yen Kayoko Shimoda king costs 1,500 yen a Taiki employee. and don’t forget to book in ad- per person/per ddoll.oll. Multimedia Consultants The studio employs seven Max Genao Doug Johnson vance. Jason Lee Hans Simpson disabled persons, two of which Recently, a WA Chae Pang Yi Gianni Youn have over 47 years of expe- group of Camp ABOUT TAIKI OKINAWA Robert Zuckerman rience decorating the dolls, Courtney and ility was Graphic Designers Shinzato added. Since each fac Kenichi Ogasawara Yosuke Tsuji Camp McTure- Before it was Taiki Okinawa, the facilityShoku gyowas kokeshi doll is handcrafted Sales Support ous students had called Okinawa Shintai Shougaisha Shokugyoguidance Kazumi Hasegawa Hiromi Isa here and the process takes any- Shidousho (Okinawa vocational eguidanceOkinawa a chance to visit Ichiro Katayanagi Yoko Noro where from three to six months center for disabled) and was run by the(Ok Okinawainawa Yoichi Okazaki Yusuke Sato Taiki’s studio. per doll, the studio only makes Association of Disabled Veterans d(Okinawauction of Chae Yon Son Saori Tamanaha After their about 500 dolls or less per year. Shoui Gunjin Kai) in Naha City. Productiond in 1972 of group tour, the For feedback and inquiries, Getting your hands on one of the Okinawan kokeshi dolls startedm ergin e1972 to children care- contact [email protected] these special dolls might be dif- at two facilities that would later merge to fully penciled the become Taiki Okinawa in 2009. studio, To place an ad, call DSN 645-7419 ficult as only a few retail stores facial features Aside from the kokeshi doll studio,grow stripesokinawa.com/contact on the island stock them, but onto their wooden physically-disabled persons also cgrowility, Taiki sells them and also opens vegetables and bake bread at the facility, dolls. When they its doors to those who would like which is all available for purchase. to learn how the Okinawan dolls reached the col- are made by making their own. oring phase, the CHECK US OUT children’s creative For a small fee (1,500 yen or they were yet too ONLINE! side took the lead. Some of the $13.50 per person/doll), visitors carry any mes-s- children’s dolls ended up with get a tour of the studio filled sage inside, the chil-hil- with machines, tools and lum- multicolored hair instead of the dren’s own “Sayonaraonara ber, where the craftsmen work conventional black hair or with Dolls” were alreadyready daily. There visitors learn the humorous facial expressions. very special. dolls are made of Okinawa “I like painting all of it. But For a departuree from Pine, or Ryukyu Matsu, and Sty- the most difficult part was doing the usual craft placplac-- rax japonica, or Ego no Ki lum- the face,” Cameron, one of the es around the island, ber and about the painstaking children in the group, said as he Taiki offers a uuniquenique process it takes to paint each dried his kokeshi doll. experience to createreate a doll’s meticulous facial details After the paint was dry, each uniquely Okinawawa craft by hand. doll was carefully wrapped in all while supportinging a ggrouproup of STRIPESOKINAWA.COM In the second portion of the “bingata,” the traditional dyed talented craftsmen.en. tour, visitors have a chance to fabric of Okinawa. Although [email protected] +81 (3) 5441-9800 MAY 16 − MAY 22, 2019 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION STRIPES OKINAWA 3 File photo nts p Fun eve lanned on Okinawa STRIPES OKINAWA SUTSU UNAPUKA: June 25; Sutsu means season, Unapuka means celebration, 20TH BEACH VOLLEY MIYAKO JIMA 2019: gratitude, and festival; originally; this is a June 1-2; Beach volleyball tournament at festival to offer millet, so it takes place in Miyako Island’s Yonahamaehama Beach; the lunar calendar’s May, the harvest time register by May 10; registration fee: 4-player for millet; free admission; four locations team-10,000 yen, 2-player team-5,000 yen; on Tarama Island; 0980-79-2260; www. 4-player team must consist of 2 males and 2 vill.tarama.okinawa.jp/. females; free to watch; 0980-73-1881; www. bvmm.jp/index.html. OKINAWA FOOD FLEA: June 1, noon-9 p.m., 2, noon-7 p.m.; a part of Okinawa IESON KAIJIN SAI: June 6, 1-8 p.m. (*schd- E-Motion; Okinawan food festival; at Umi- ule subject to change); festival to pray for sora Park in Naha City; free admission; VDIH YR\DJH DQG ULFK KDXO ƓVKHUPHQ DQG ZZZRRGŴHDRNLQDZD locals gather and compete in sumo wrestling, dance, folk dance, and karaoke; at Ie Port Upu- 42nd ZAMAMI YACHT RACE: June 22, guchi no Hama on Ie Island; free admission; 8:25 a.m.-1 p.m., commendation party no parking available; 0980-49-2035. 6-9 p.m.; Okinawa’s most historical yacht race; races from Ginowan Marina to Za- ISHIGAKI CITY HARYUSEN KYOSO TAIKAI: mami Port; free experience test-ride June 6, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; dragon boat race at Ish- event, hula dance, and Eisa events at the igaki Fishing Port; free to watch; free parking party; free admission; no parking avail- available; 0980-82-2448. able; 098-987-2277; www.vill.zamami. okinawa.jp/. KUMEJIMA HA-RI-: June 6 & 9; at Torishima Fishing Port, Mahaku Fishing Port on the 6th, BIOS NO OKA NIGHT TOUR: May 18 - Gima Fishing Port on the 9th; free to watch; June 30; 6:15-9 p.m.; open for night time free parking available; 098-896-7010; www.