Stuffed Folk Toy - Duck

Hida-Takayama is the centre of wooden furniture production in Japan and to many expert woodworkers. In order to avoid wasting the scrapwood left behind by the production of furnitures, some of them are made into printing block. Woodblock printing is an age-old method of printing in the Asian continent, which was adopted by Japan during the Edo-period (1603-1868 CE) for printing books and creating decorations and painting on paper and canvas alike. The relief of the patterns is carved by hand into the wooden blocks which can only be used for one colour at a time. The patterns and colours hand-printed on the cotton fabric show the many varieties of woodblocks carved to carefully create each of these hand-sewn toys. Once the colours and patterns are transferred onto the fabric, it is then dried using steam. The inside of the toys is filled with natural rice hulls, which is the hard, protective covering of rice grains.

This particular toy takes the shape of a duck, one of the many species of bird often seen in the area of Hida-Takayama.

Avoid moisture and open flames.

Size (Male): L14 cm x W6 cm x H9.5 cm

Size (Female): L10.5 cm x W5 cm x H7.5 cm

Hokkaidō

Hokkaidō is the northernmost of Japan's main islands, largely unspoiled, and the least densely populated. It is known for its national parks, numerous world-class ski resorts, delicious seafood and the distinct culture of the indigenous Ainu population. While the summers are comfortably mild, winters are cold. Sapporo, the largest city, is home to the annual Snow Festival.