Restoration of the checkered doll "Miss Saitama" that Eiichi Shibusawa gave to the United States November 14, 7:08
Before the war, the dolls donated by Japan to the United States were restored in Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama City, where doll making was popular, led by Eiichi Shibusawa and others in hopes of friendship between Japan and the United States.
The restored checkered doll, named "Miss Saitama", was given by Japan in the hope of friendship with the United States before the war and is about 90 cm high.
The checkered doll was a thank-you gift for the "blue-eyed doll" given to Japanese children by the United States as part of the Japan-US exchange program led by Eiichi Shibusawa and others at that time.
This restoration was planned by the Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore to let people know about Shibusawa's achievements, and was handled by a doll shop in Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama City, where doll making is flourishing.
Based on the materials at that time, we started the restoration work from April this year, and on the 13th, we put on a kimono and a red belt on the doll and completed it.
Mr. Masashi Sugiyama, a curator of the museum, said, "I want you to feel the feelings of Eiichi Shibusawa for peace through dolls."
This checkered doll will be exhibited at the "Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore" in Saitama City from March next year at a special exhibition that will be held in conjunction with the NHK Taiga drama depicting the life of Eiichi Shibusawa.