Traditional Crafts

Imajuku DollsDolls

Imajuku dolls are a variety of clay folk doll that formed the basis of Hakata dolls. Their origins date back to 1905, when a dollmaker called Seisuke Ohashi opened a workshop for creating seasonal festival dolls under the trade name of "Ninsei." Many of the dolls are connected with people's lives, such as traditional daily-to-day culture, oral culture and beliefs. They depict a range of subject matter, with typical examples including monkey and "otafuku (woman who brings much fortune)" masks displayed to protect against fire and theft. There are also dolls of warriors from olden times which were created to ward off sickness from children. Imajuku dolls have a rustic charm and warmth loved by many. The legacy of Ninsei is still upheld today by craftsmen using the same molds for the dolls that have been carefully handed down over the generations.