Catalog Number |
CAS 1993-0001-0342 | |
Category | Folk Toys | |
Object Name | Animated toy (sumo wrestlers) | |
Culture | Japanese | |
Global Region | East Asia | |
Country | Japan | |
State/Prov./Dist. | Kumamoto Prefecture | |
County | ||
Other Geographic Data | City: Hinaku | |
Maker's Name | Unknown | |
Date of Manufacture | ca. 1975 | |
Collection Name | Kadota Collection (Japanese Folk Toys) | |
Materials | Wood (Paulownia imperialis); Paint | |
Description | Pair of sumo wrestlers, carved from flat pieces of wood; Both figures have movable legs and because their arms are interlocked, they appear to have only one pair of arms between them; Small hole drilled through arms is for insertion of small stick, which is twisted to simulate the various moves made by wrestlers during a match; Figures are unpainted except for painted red and blue loincloths and black facial features; This toy first appeared in the early 19th Century at a festival to commemorate the death of a famous sumo wrestler from the Hinaku area and has been sold at festivals ever since that time. | |
Dimensions (cm) | Height = ca. 19.8, Width = 14.8, Depth = 2.8 |