I am currently on holiday with my family in Miyazaki Prefecture. Miyazaki Prefecture lies along the south-east coast of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four major islands. Miyazaki is a rural prefecture with a long straight coastline along the Pacific Ocean and a subtropical climate, which means that bamboo is in plentiful supply.
There are mountains and volcanoes farther inland in the Kirishima volcanic zone.
Miyazaki is also the birthplace of the Japanese gods and the home of the emperors of the Yamato dynasty.
There are three famous “mingei” (folk-art) products that are associated with Miyazaki Prefecture, which would make excellent souvenirs of a trip to the region.
1. “Shio Tego” (salt basket). Miyazaki is famous for its production of bamboo baskets. The “shio-tego” is a small basket designed for carrying salt (”shio”) that has been garnered from the ocean.
The basket is made of tightly woven bamboo strips in the form of a cone. A fairly long handle across the open mouth of the basket allows it to be hung up while the salt dries.
As the salt dries, the moisture seeps out of the bottom of the basket through the point of the cone and it is collected in a cup, or in a specially attached section of bamboo. The moisture is called “nigari” in Japanese, also known as “bittern” in America.
Nigari is valued in Japan as a coagulant used in the production of tofu, or bean curd, a popular Japanese dish.
So the basket performs a triple function of (1) storing salt, (2) drying it, and (3) delivering a supply of nigari for use in tofu making.
2. “Nobori-zaru” (Climbing monkey): A small banner is attached to a bamboo stick. A papier-mache monkey (saru) is attached to the bottom of the banner with a piece of string, and its arms are made of a single piece of thin bamboo or paper and the pole is passed through the inside so that when the wind blows the banner, it pulls the monkey who appears to “climb” (noboru) the pole.
The monkey is very decorative. It carries a dancing drum and a “gohei” (shinto priestly wand) on its back and wears a nobleman’s decorative hat.
The toy is traditionally presented to parents of newly born baby boys.
3. “Uzura-guruma” (Quail car): Quail (uzura) are a popular species of bird in Miyazaki, where they migrate to from Hokkaido during the autumn and winter. The “uzura-guruma” is a rather crudely made wooden toy bird that “moves” on two wheels. The bird sits upright on its tail and wheels. There are two basic designs, one small and colourful, which represents the male of the species, and one larger and less colourful, which represents the female.
These toys are sometimes given to pregnant women as good luck charms.
All three Miyazaki folk-craft items discussed here have an unique history of their own to tell and come with an authentic atmosphere of “traditional Japan”.
David Hurley
