ISLAMABAD: The Japanese embassy and the Japanese Foundation hosted an exhibition titled Ningyo: Art and Beauty of Japanese Dolls at the National Art Gallery on Tuesday.

The exhibition marked the start of the 70th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and Pakistan.

It was inaugurated by Japanese Ambassador Wada Mitsuhiro and attended by Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs MNA Andleeb Abbas and Director of Administration, Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Ayub Jamali.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Wada said: “It is the utmost pleasure for me to welcome you today to inaugurate this splendid exhibition to celebrate the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relationship this year. Ningyo means dolls in the Japanese language and they are thought to be a symbol of friendship and protection and some of them are for the celebration of young girls and boys at special occasions in wishing for their health, prosperity and future success.”

“This exhibition mirrors a very traditional and historic aspect of Japanese culture,” Ambassador Wada said, adding that there are about 70 carefully selected dolls at this exhibition divided into four sections: Dolls to pray for the children’s growth, Dolls as fine arts, Dolls as folk art and Spread of Dolls culture.

“You can see the importance of these dolls in Japanese society; I would like to thank PNCA for providing us this beautiful venue and joining hands with us as a co-organiser,” he added.

The first section introduced the formation of the Japanese doll which originated in rituals and the form of prayers for the healthy growth of children. The second and third sections juxtaposed “Ningy as fine art” with artisans’ gorgeous techniques and “Ningy as folk art”, which are made of simple materials and various charming shapes.

Finally, in the fourth section, the evolution of the Japanese doll culture that leads to the present day was revealed.

Ningyo is a traditional Japanese craft dating back centuries. There are various types of traditional dolls, some representing children and babies, some the imperial court, warriors and heroes, fairy-tale characters, and also people of the daily life of Japanese cities.

Many have a long tradition and are used for shrines, for formal gift-giving or for festival celebrations such as Hinamatsuri, the doll festival, or Kodomo no Hi, Children’s Day.

In the exhibition, a total of 67 carefully curated dolls displayed the diversity of the craft.

The collection, which is available for public viewing till Jan 25, was a profound cultural symbol reflecting the rich history of Japanese dolls and the way they are interspersed with the Japanese way of life.

The exhibition presented a comprehensive introduction to Japanese doll culture, from Katashiro and Amagatsu, which are considered to be the archetypes of dolls in Japan, to local dolls that reflect the climate and anecdotes from across the country, to dress-up dolls that are beloved in Japan today as toys, and scale figures that are highly regarded around the world.

As with most crafts the meticulous craftsmanship of the Japanese artisans was apparent in the fine stitching, attention to detail and selection of materials and patterns.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2022