By KENTA SUJINO/ Staff Writer
March 5, 2023 at 17:28 JST
A huge “kokeshi” doll lies in front of the gate to the Goei-do hall of Higashi Honganji temple in Kyoto’s Shimogyo Ward on March 3. (Kenta Sujino)
KYOTO--A huge limbless “kokeshi” doll lying on its side has impressed tourists and local residents at Higashi Honganji temple in Kyoto’s Shimogyo Ward.
The 12-meter-long balloon object made of tent cloth is located in front of the gate to the temple’s Goei-do hall.
It is part of the “Artists’ Fair Kyoto 2023,” an event held to support young artists.
The giant kokeshi doll was created by artistic duo Yotta in 2011 and named Hanako. It will be on display through March 12.
The doll “talks” occasionally, saying such things as, “It’s Instagram worthy,” “Spring is just around the corner,” and “I am getting sleepy.”
A 73-year-old woman from Kyoto’s Yamashina Ward, who was taking pictures of the object, admired the doll’s gentle voice.
“It is a great idea to disseminate Japanese traditional culture in a form like this,” she said.
ANIME NEWS: Latest in ‘Violet Evergarden’ series due for April 24 release
March 22, 2020
Geisha gather at home of mentor to mark turn of year in Kyoto
December 13, 2019
Suspect in deadly arson at Kyoto studio regains consciousness
July 26, 2019
KYOTO GOES KAWAII: Last pottery for Fushimi dolls offers more than 2,000 varieties
June 5, 2020
Man arrested over trying to place ‘curse’ on Vladimir Putin
June 16, 2022
Tea-serving automated doll put to work at Kobe museum
February 13, 2020
Stories about memories of cherry blossoms solicited from readers
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry
A series on the death of a Japanese woman that sparked a debate about criminal justice policy in the United States
A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
