*SHIPPING OPTIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE DESTINATION, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR MORE DETAILS.

This listing is for a Nara itto-bori okimono made around 30-40 years ago by Setani Togen.  They are made of camphor wood and depict the old couple from the Noh play “Takasago”.  Takasago is an auspicious story based on the idea of blessing and celebration.  The main characters are an old man and woman who live far apart from each other but maintain harmony between husband and wife.  The story is set during the Engi period (901-923), and it tells the story of a shinto priest by the name of Tomonari making a trip from Aso shrine in Kyushu up to the ancient capital of Kyoto.  During his travels he stops at Takasago-no-ura beach in Harima Province (present day Hyogo Prefecture), and notices an old couple sweeping up needles under a large pine tree.  He asks them to tell him the story associated with the tree, and they oblige.  The couple explains that the pine is known as Takasago Pine, and its pair is Suminoe pine growing in distant Sumiyoshi.  They go on to say that according to legend, the wedded pine will remain together for eternity.  The young priest tells the old man that all relationships, indeed all life, falls short of the ideal.  The old couple then reveal that they are the incarnation of Takasago pine and Suminoe pine, the wedded pines called ‘Aioi-no-matsu’.  They then board a small boat and leave for Sumiyoshi, promising to meet Tomonari again someday.   Tomonari left for Sumiyoshi that very evening, following the moonlight going out with the tide, forgetting all about his trip to Kyoto.   The signature of the carver can be found on the back of the old lady, and they come with their original signed wooden storage box.  They also come with two yellow wrapping cloths for when the dolls are not in use, as well as a Japanese language profile paper. 

Setani Togen is a family of ittobori carvers in Nara Prefecture.  Nara dolls have been carved since ancient times, and it is a hereditary occupation.  Kasuga Shrine in Nara was rebuilt every twenty-one years, and at this time old cypress wood was scraped off and used as material for sculpture. A craftsman named Okano Shoju began carving wooden puppets for Noh plays during the Edo period, and he became a leading figure among Nara ittobori carvers.  Later Morikawa Touen and his friend Setani Togen devised their own carving method of carving, and it’s the ittobori style that we know today.  This marks the beginning of the Setani Togen workshop, which is now in its fifth generation.  They produce pieces for ceremonial use as well as okimono for special occasions.  All their pieces are hand-painted and completed at their workshop in Nara.  **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.

Sizes

Box:  H.13.7cm (5.3”) x 17.3cm (6.8”) x 9.1cm (3.5”)

Man:  H.10.3cm (4”) x 6.5cm (2.5”) across x 5cm (1.9”) from back to front

Woman:  H.10cm (3.9”) excluding the broom x 6.5cm (2.5”) across x 4.1cm (1.6”) from back to front

Condition

The end of the rake is bent, however there’s almost no wear on the dolls.  The lid of the box is a little spotty.

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION              

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-28 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Asia:  Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-21 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Central Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico:  EMS Express 10-15 days.

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.