Dollmaker: Nakamura Hiromine - FRONTRUNNERS

Key Concepts

• Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival: An annual summer festival in Fukuoka, Japan, with over 780 years of history, recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. It involves men running through the streets carrying elaborately decorated floats (kakiyama).
• Hakata Dolls: Traditional Japanese dolls originating from Fukuoka, with a 400-year history, originally created to convey good wishes for well-being or the healthy development of children.
• Nakamura Hiomina: A young, globally recognized Hakata doll maker who is innovating within the tradition.
• Kakiyama: The floats carried during the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, each belonging to a specific district (nagare).
• Nagare: Districts within Fukuoka that participate in the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, each responsible for a kakiyama.
• Kazari: Lavishly decorated floats displayed across the city during the festival, traditionally depicting famous warriors and battles.
• Sun Wukong: The protagonist of the Chinese classic "Journey to the West," chosen by Hiomina as the subject for his kakiyama figure, a departure from traditional Japanese historical heroes.
• Minamoto no Yorimitsu: A 10th-11th century Japanese samurai known for demon slaying, depicted by Hiomina in a previous festival.
• Oiayama: The climax of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival on its final day, where all kakiyama charge into Kushida Shrine.
• Sedor Bata: A flag at Kushida Shrine around which the kakiyama circle during the Oiayama.

Nakamura Hiomina: Innovating Hakata Doll Tradition

Nakamura Hiomina is a young doll maker from Fukuoka, Japan, who is gaining international acclaim for his innovative approach to the traditional Hakata doll craft. With a family legacy tracing back to his great-grandfather, Hiomina is blending ancient techniques with modern sensibilities. He is particularly known for his work on figures for the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage event with over 780 years of history.

Hakata Dolls: A Tradition of Well-being

Hakata dolls have a 400-year history, originating as a way for samurai and townsfolk to convey good wishes, such as prayers for well-being or the healthy development of children. This tradition has been passed down through generations in Hakata, the historic trading hub of Fukuoka.

Hiomina's Artistic Vision: Fusing Tradition and Modernity

Hiomina's signature works often feature athletes from the modern era, a significant departure from the traditional depictions of warriors and historical figures. These modern heroes are adorned with intricate patterns that have been passed down since ancient times, creating a fusion of tradition and innovation. Hiomina states, "I try to view the present from the perspective of a doll maker from 400 years ago. In the modern day, there's plenty of subject matter to choose from. Every era turns its heroes into dolls. So, I thought to myself, who are the heroes of the present? And I realized that it's athletes today that influence people's emotions." His work has garnered global recognition, with exhibitions in New York and Venice, and an award at the Triennale of Kanazawa in 2017.

The Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival: A New Direction

For the 2017 Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, Hiomina was first commissioned to create a figure for a kakiyama float. His initial work depicted Minamoto no Yorimitsu, a classic Japanese warrior. However, he observed that many of these traditional figures were unfamiliar to children, which concerned him.

Hiomina's primary motivation for his artistic choices is the future of the festival. He believes, "I want to focus on figures that are easier for children to recognize. The future of the Hakatagon Yamakasa Festival relies on kids. That's why it needs to leave a deep impression. They need to come away from it thinking, 'That figure was so cool.' My goal is to get them excited. And to do that, I need to make things that are one of a kind."

This conviction led him to choose Sun Wukong, the protagonist of the Chinese classic "Journey to the West," for his 2023 kakiyama figure. Sun Wukong is a popular hero among Japanese children, making him a more relatable and exciting figure for the younger generation. The creation of the Sun Wukong figure took two months, with Hiomina meticulously crafting its face, adding subtle blues and yellows to a pink base, and white flowing fur for a dignified look. The finished figure is described as imposing and fearless, with added teeth to the demon's mouth.

Family Legacy and Mentorship

The doll-making tradition runs deep in Hiomina's family. His father, Shinko, is a highly respected doll maker in Japan. Shinko once presented a work to Pope Benedict XVI, bringing global attention to Hakata dolls. Shinko's philosophy emphasizes humility and service: "dispense with ego and work for others."

Hiomina's path to becoming a doll maker was not straightforward. Despite graduating with honors from a top art school, his father initially sent him to train at a prestigious pottery. This period of intense physical labor and self-reflection was crucial for Hiomina's development. He describes it as a time when he "had space. I had the opportunity to truly examine myself." Shinko believed that "doll makers create objects that look like human beings. And immature people can only make immature dolls. Even with my own son, there's no guarantee. When everything is going smoothly, some people have a habit of looking down on others. But to be a doll maker, it's important to understand the feelings of others. And to do that, you have to look inside yourself."

A significant turning point for Hiomina was the birth of his eldest son, Tohaku, in 2014. The emergency cesarean section highlighted the miracle of a healthy birth, a sentiment that resonated deeply with his understanding of the prayers embedded in Hakata dolls. He realized, "When our customers buy our dolls, they're expressing a desire for their children and grandchildren to grow up with health and vigor. For myself, too, when my son was at risk, I understood those feelings from the very bottom of my heart. The dolls are a physical representation of those prayers. I understood that after experiencing it firsthand."

The Festival in Full Swing

The Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival culminates in the Oiayama on July 15th, the festival's final day. All seven Nagare districts gather for this climax, where the kakiyama charge into Kushida Shrine, circling the Sedor Bata flag. The floats then embark on a 5 km course to Hakata.

During the festival, Hiomina not only creates the figures but also plays a role in guiding the float. This year, he participated by climbing onto the float with his sons, Tohaku and Shotoku, a custom designed to allow children to experience the festival's energy and inspire them to continue the tradition.

Shinko's Contribution to the Festival

Shinko, Hiomina's father, is also responsible for one of the 13 Kazari floats displayed across the city. For the 2023 festival, Shinko chose to depict the Mongol invasion of Fukuoka in 1281, featuring a confrontation between Mongolians and Japanese samurai. The 40 kg figure of Takake Suaga, a front-line warrior, was meticulously positioned by Shinko, with carpenters working on a narrow frame to create a dynamic scene. Shinko's Kazari float is a complex assembly of approximately 200 ornaments, forming a "gigantic picture scroll."

The Message of the Festival

Hiomina believes the festival's figures should convey a message from Hakata to the world, promoting community and growth. He emphasizes the importance of passing the tradition to the next generation, stating, "I think the figures we build for the festival should send a message from Hakata to people all across the world. They should send a message promoting community and growth. The baton needs to be passed on to the next generation. So I want to do my best to be able to do that."

Conclusion

Nakamura Hiomina represents a vital force in preserving and evolving the centuries-old tradition of Hakata dolls and the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival. By embracing modern heroes and focusing on engaging younger generations, he is ensuring that this rich cultural heritage continues to thrive. His personal journey, shaped by family legacy, rigorous training, and profound life experiences, informs his art and his commitment to passing on the spirit of community and tradition to the future.