Exhibition Room 1 Ningyo Production in Saitama
Until a Ningyo’s Completion
Of Japan’s many types of ningyo, the majority of those produced for sale are created through a division of labor, with specialized craftsmen responsible for the head, arms and legs, torso, and accessories. Then those parts are assembled by the manufacturing wholesaler, and the ningyo is complete. Iwatsuki has a particularly complete range of craftsmen covering every part of ningyo production. During Japan’s period of rapid economic growth, about 300 workshops and wholesalers worked together here.
Today mechanism and the introduction of new materials are both advancing. In the past, however, natural materials were used and ningyo were created by hand. Here we focus on introducing techniques used traditionally in producing ningyo.
