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

This listing is for a papier mâché oku hariko ram made around 20 years ago by Takehisa Tada.  Oku hariko are a type of folk toy from the Oku district in Okayama Prefecture.  Oku hariko have been produced since the Edo period and are made of recycled newspaper and coated in crushed oyster shell powder called gofun.  Once the base is dried each hariko ram is hand-painted and trimmed with blue and black stripes.  The ram in this listing is hollow and has a reasonably hard outer frame.  Despite his gruff appearance he’s actually a refined man with discerning tastes.  He can be found roaming the fields, occasionally stopping to smell the flowers....and then eating them.  His claim to fame is having his own 2003 edition postage stamp which was designed to commemorate the Year of the Sheep. 

Takehisa Tada (b.1958) is a papier mâché craftsman based in Setouchi city in Okayama Prefecture.  Setouchi is known for its hariko tiger crafts, as well as furniture, ceramics and textiles.  His workshop is called ‘Takehisa Mamoru Shoten’ and was opened by his father in 1957.  The family business began producing New Year items in 1966, and Takehisa is regularly featured in the news preparing Hariko tiger for the annual Children’s Day festival.  After each 12-year cycle he changes the facial expressions of the animals and adds some colour variations.  Incidentally across the road from Takehisa Mamoru Shoten is a Yumeji Art Museum, a museum of art dedicated to Setouchi-born poet and artist Takehisa Yumeji (1884-1934). Takehisa Tada and Yumeji are in fact related, but share different kanji for their family name.  **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.

Size

H.14.3cm (5.6”) x L.15.2cm (5.9”) x W.6.8cm (2.6”)

Condition

It’s in very good condition aside from some very light surface wear and some marks on the bottom of the feet.

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.