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Friendship dolls

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Friendship dolls, Japanese friendship dolls (友情人形, yūjō ningyō), or Japanese ambassador dolls and the American blue-eyed dolls (青い目の人形, aoi me no ningyō), were dolls sent between Japan and the United States in 1927. The dolls were meant to improve the deteriorated relationship between Japan and America that had resulted from the Immigration Act of 1924, which prohibited East Asians from immigrating to the United States and sparked anti-Japanese exclusion movements in California and other parts of the US.[1] The Friendship dolls were meant to inspire children to cultivate friendship with the children of the other country, rather than to initiate specific political or legal changes.[2]

Viscount Eiichi Shibusawa with two dolls

Friendship dolls project

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Dr. Sidney Gulick was a former missionary who spent time in Japan between 1888 and 1913. He was familiar with the importance of dolls in Japanese culture, and to promote goodwill between the countries he initiated a program to send dolls from the US to children in Japan.[3] Gulick helped form a group called the Committee on World Friendship Among Children (CWFC),[4] which was overseen by the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, and the Commission on International Justice and Goodwill.[5]

In 1927, the group's first project was to organize the sending of 12,739 friendship dolls, also known as American blue-eyed dolls, to Japan to communicate American children's feelings of friendship and goodwill towards the Japanese people. The Committee on World Friendship Among Children, Gulick, and Japanese businessman Viscount Eiichi Shibusawa worked together on the project. The American dolls arrived in Yokohama time for Hinamatsuri, the annual Japanese doll festival, in March 1927.[4][6] They were positively received, with one group of dolls receiving an audience with the Emperor of Japan.[4] One source suggests that the dolls popularized a children's song called "The Doll with Blue Eyes".[7] The dolls were distributed to kindergartens and elementary schools throughout Japan and their occupied territories.[6] Fewer than 100 of the dolls were sent to Formosa and divided amongst the ethnically segregated elementary schools and kindergartens.

The project focused on children due to their image as messengers of peace. Gulick also believed that a deeper understanding of different cultures from a young age could prevent the friction created by cultural prejudice. This was reflected in the report “Doll of Friendship” of the Committee on World Friendship Among Children, which stated that there is no other way for eternal world peace other than education.[8]

Shibusawa led a collection in Japan to reciprocate for this gift, although Gulick and the Committee had told them they did not expect such a thing.[4] A group, the Committee on International Friendship among Children in Japan, was formed to oversee the project.[9] Doll makers in Japan were commissioned to produce 58 friendship dolls, each of which represented one of 47 prefectures, four territories, and six major cities, plus one "national" doll.[4][10]

The dolls arrived in San Francisco in November 1927,[4] and groups of dolls were subsequently brought on a nationwide tour of 479 cities by Gulick and the Committee.[4][11] Afterwards, they were sent to libraries and museums throughout the United States, with each of the states (48 at the time) receiving at least one doll each.[4] American parents and teachers were asked to the doll exchange as an educationally beneficial event to teach American children about Hinamatsuri and Japanese cultural values.[12]

American blue-eyed dolls

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The Friendship dolls were American Composition Dolls, which were very popular at that time. The dolls were primarily made in consultation with three doll makers: Averill Manufacturing Co., Effanbee, and E.I. Horsman & Co. Some of the friendship dolls came from outside the three companies; these included German bisque dolls and other manufactures.[citation needed]

The CWFC requested that the donated dolls were "price as moderate as quality would permit; face, arms, and legs of unbreakable material; joints and wig handsewn; eyes that opened and closed; and a voice that should say unmistakably 'Mama'".[13] The majority had blonde hair and blue eyes, leading to them being called the "American blue-eyed dolls";[4] the CWFC suggested in their materials that the dolls should “look like attractive and typical American girls,” which would “indirectly suggest that the dolls should be white”.[9] Some dolls were donated with handmade clothing, sometimes reflective of the region they were sent from, and in response to CWFC requests that dolls "be carefully dressed in every detail".[4][9] They were approximately 30 cm in height, and had mobile limbs and a cotton-filled torso.[14]

The CWFC set up a "Doll Travel Bureau" to manage the donated dolls, which was overseen by CWFC member Rosalie Ashton.[13]

 
Blue-eyed doll, Laura Margaret, Summer 2015, Tsurugi Library, Hakusan-city, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. See the picture details for more Info.

Dolls were donated by churches, schools, and scouting groups across the country. Each doll was sent with a message including the name of the doll, the names of the givers and the address for the "thank you" letter.[7][9] Dolls were given farewell parties and given "passports" that cost 1 cent and "railroad and steamer tickets" that cost 99 cents.[9][15] It was suggested that "girls specialize on the selection of the dolls and the making of their clothing and that boys serve as business and ticket agents". Dolls were also accompanied with a poem written by Robert Underwood Johnson, titled "Friends Across the Sea", which was written at the request of the CWFC.[citation needed]

In total, 22,379 dolls were collected from 47 of the 48 states in the United States, 11,975 of which were sent to Japan according to the historical materials of Eiichi Shibusawa.[16] Other sources cite the number of dolls sent at 12,739.[7]

During World War II, many of the dolls were destroyed, but some were saved by individuals.[7][17][18] As of 2002, only 233 American-made dolls had been recovered.[7]

Japanese dolls

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Each doll was 32-33 inches tall, with a silk yuzen-dyed kimono, complete with family crest and furisode-style sleeves, and "bridal trousseau" accessories.[4][19] Each doll had uniquely sculpted facial features made from gofun.[4][20]

The majority of the dolls (51 of 58) were made by Tokyo's Yoshitoku Doll Company,[4] and represented the 51 prefectures and colonies of Japan.[19] They had a partial wood core covered with fabric,[19] and human hair, glass eyes, hinged legs, and a mechanism that allowed them to say "mama" when squeezed.[4] Individual artists are credited on labels on the back of each doll.[4]

The remaining seven dolls, representing six Japanese cities and the Imperial household, were made by the Ohki Heizo (Maruhei) Doll Company in Kyoto.[19][21] They were made of wood with peg joints at the legs allowing for movement.[19]

As with the American-made dolls, the Japanese dolls were also sent with passports, steamship tickets, and letters written by children.[7]

Over the years, a few dolls were lost or went missing, but many are still on display today; some, however, may not be displayed under the correct name due to errors in transport.[4][22][23] Up to 25 of the dolls may be currently identified under names different than originally intended.[24]

A few additional Japanese dolls were sent separately following the positive reception of the original 58. At least two, Miss Okazaki and Miss Fukue Atsumi, have been identified.[25]

Locations

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Doll Original Location Current Location Image Notes Ref
Miss Aichi Nashville, Tennessee Japan [1] Was lost for decades, but was rediscovered in 2014 and returned to Japan
Miss Fukiko Akita Detroit Children's Museum, Detroit, Michigan [26]
Miss Aomori Private collection Bought by current owner in 1963 from an antiques dealer. [27][28]
Miss Chiba Riverside, California Unknown
Miss Chosen Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso, Indiana
Miss Dai Nippon (Miss Japan) Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. [29][30]
Miss Ehime Gulfport, Mississippi Destroyed in Hurricane Camille (1969)[19] and replaced in 1988
Miss Fukui Salt Lake City Unknown
Miss Fukuoka Brooklyn, New York City[31] Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Eugene, Oregon Formerly known as Miss Gunma. Gifted to the Jordan Schnitzer Museum in 1972. [32][33]
Miss Fukushima Houston, Texas National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, Kansas City, Missouri [34]
Miss Gifu Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio Repaired in Gifu Prefecture in 1995 [35]
Miss Gunma Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach, Florida
Miss Hiroko Hiroshima Barry Art Museum, Norfolk, Virginia [2] Recovered in 1997. The Baltimore Museum of Art also has a Friendship Doll named Miss Hiroshima; this is thought to actually be the original Miss Yamaguchi[36] [36]
Miss Hokkaido Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science, Davenport, Iowa [3] [37]
Miss Hyogo St. Joseph Museum, Saint Joseph, Missouri [4] [38]
Miss Ibaraki (Tsukuba Kasumi) Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Was put on display again following the 2011 tsunami and earthquake in Japan[10] [39][40]
Miss Ishikawa Montana Historical Society, Helena, Montana [41]
Miss Iwate Birmingham Public Library, Birmingham, Alabama [5] [42]
Miss Kagawa North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina [6] [43]
Miss Kagoshima Phoenix Museum of History, Phoenix, Arizona [44]
Miss Kanagawa Eugene, Oregon Unknown
Miss Kanto-shu Manchester, New Hampshire Private collection [45]
Miss Karafuto confused with Miss Nagano
Miss Kobe-shi Stamford, Connecticut Unknown
Miss Kochi Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [7] [46]
Miss Kumamoto New Orleans, Louisiana Unknown
Miss Kyoto-fu Boston Children's Museum, Boston, Massachusetts [8] [23]
Miss Kyoto-shi Museum of Discovery, Little Rock, Arkansas After being removed from exhibit during World War, was returned to display in 1953. Restored in 2012. [47]
Miss Mie University of Nebraska State Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska [9] [11]
Miss Miyagi Private collection in Kansas [48]
Miss Miyazaki Hennepin County Library in Minneapolis, Minnesota Minnesota Historical Society, Saint Paul, Minnesota Given to the Minnesota Historical Society in 2016; restored in Tokyo in 2017 [49][50]
Miss Nagano Providence, Rhode Island Delaware Historical Society in Wilmington, Delaware [10] Thought to be Miss Karafuto until 1996. Repaired in Japan in 2004 [51][52]
Miss Nagasaki (Tamako) Rochester Museum and Science Center in Rochester, New York [53][54]
Miss Nagoya-shi Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, Georgia [43][55]
Miss Nara Idaho Historical Museum, Boise, Idaho Repaired in Japan in 1994 and returned to Idaho with a 'sister' doll, New Miss Nara. In return, Idaho sent a friendship doll named LaTis Kuts Kuts to Japan, dressed in Native American clothing[56] [57]
Miss Oita Springfield Science Museum in Springfield, Massachusetts [58]
Miss Okayama Valley City, North Dakota North Dakota State University Textile Collection in Fargo, North Dakota (since 1973) [11] Repaired in Japan in 2001 and 2020 [59]
Miss Okinawa Cincinnati Art Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio [60]
Miss Marika Osaka-fu Newark, New Jersey Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, Ohio [12] [26][30]
Miss Osaka-shi Newark Museum in Newark, New Jersey Was sent to the United States with a "little brother" doll [61][62]
Miss Saga Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Unknown
Miss Saitama Charleston Museum in Charleston, South Carolina [43]
Miss Shiga Miami, Florida Unknown
Miss Shimane Children's Museum of Indianapolis in Indianapolis   [63]
Miss Shizuoka Kansas City Museum in Kansas City, Missouri [64]
Miss Taiwan Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in Los Angeles, California [4]
Miss Tochigi Charleston, West Virginia Unknown
Miss Tokushima Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane, Washington [65][66]
Miss Tokyo-fu Richmond, Virginia Unknown
Miss Tokyo-shi New York City, New York Unknown
Miss Tottori Topeka, Kansas Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society in Pierre, South Dakota Originally known as Miss Miyagi[24] [30]
Miss Toyama Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky [30]
Miss Wakayama Nevada Historical Society in Reno, Nevada [67]
Miss Yamagata Maine Maine State Museum in Augusta, Maine Was loaned to Japan in 1988-1989 [68]
Miss Yamaguchi Chicago, Illinois Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico [3][69]
Miss Yamanashi Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne, Wyoming [70]
Miss Yokohama-shi Denver Public Library, Denver Colorado Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys, Denver, Colorado Entrusted to Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys after being restored[21][20][71]
San Francisco, California Unknown [44]

Legacy

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Denny Gulick, grandson of Sidney, has tried to revive the doll exchange idea.[72]

In 2012, American novelist Kirby Larson published a novel called The Friendship Doll, which followed Miss Kanagawa during her tour across the United States.[73]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Koresawa, Hiroaki (2010). 青い目の人形と近代日本. ISBN 978-4-902163-56-8.
  2. ^ Koresawa, Hiroaki (2010). 青い目の人形と近代日本. pp. iv–v. ISBN 978-4-902163-56-8.
  3. ^ a b "About the Collections - Miss Yamaguchi Japanese Ambassador Doll". Museum of International Folk Art. Archived from the original on 2009-04-19.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Silent Envoys". Natural History Museum. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  5. ^ Koresawa, Hiroaki (2010). 青い目の人形と近代日本. p. 67. ISBN 978-4-902163-56-8.
  6. ^ a b "4. Blue-eyed Dolls Coming to Japan". www.city.isehara.kanagawa.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "A Mission of Friendship". Japanese American National Museum. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  8. ^ Committee on World Friendship Among Children (1929). Dolls of friendship; the story of a goodwill project between the children of America and Japan. New York: Friendship Press. pp. xiii.
  9. ^ a b c d e Good, Katie Day (2020-07-28). "'Messengers of Goodwill': America's Tokens of Friendship and Power". The MIT Press Reader. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  10. ^ a b Loohauis-Bennett, Jackie (2011-04-27). "Milwaukee doll stars in Japan relief effort". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  11. ^ a b "About Miss Mie : Miss Mie: Historic Japanese Friendship Doll". University of Nebraska State Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  12. ^ Koresawa, Hiroaki (2010). 青い目の人形と近代日本. pp. 69–74. ISBN 978-4-902163-56-8.
  13. ^ a b Committee on World Friendship Among Children (1929). Dolls of friendship; the story of a goodwill project between the children of America and Japan. New York: Friendship Press. p. 8.
  14. ^ Koresawa, Hiroaki (2010). 青い目の人形と近代日本. pp. 75–80. ISBN 978-4-902163-56-8.
  15. ^ Committee on World Friendship Among Children (1929). Dolls of friendship; the story of a goodwill project between the children of America and Japan. New York: Friendship Press. pp. 10–11.
  16. ^ Koresawa, Hiroaki (2010). 青い目の人形と近代日本. pp. 80–83. ISBN 978-4-902163-56-8.
  17. ^ "Town wants friendship doll to come home from Japan". UPI. 1990-09-06. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  18. ^ Kubota, Kazumichi (August 27, 2022). "The story behind a wartime 'enemy doll' sent from America". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  19. ^ a b c d e f Pate, Alan Scott (2013-02-12). Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0720-5.
  20. ^ a b "Friendship Doll at the Library". Denver Public Library History. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  21. ^ a b "Miss Yokohama, Colorado's Japanese Friendship Doll". History Colorado. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  22. ^ Wilkins, Beth. ""Miss Miye," I Presume". University of Nebraska State Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  23. ^ a b "Miss Kyoto | Japanese House Exhibit". Boston Children's Museum. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  24. ^ a b "Miss Totorri in Wheeling: The Japanese Friendship Dolls of 1927". OCPL. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  25. ^ "Dolls of Gratitude Also Sent From Schools With Blue-eyed Dolls". Yomiuri Shimbun. 2002-01-10.
  26. ^ a b "Now: Legacy of Friendship Exchange: 97-year old Ichimatsu dolls on view at "Japanese Friendship Dolls" exhibition in Detroit Institute of Arts, Dec. 2, 2023 – Jun. 5, 2024". Cultural News. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  27. ^ "Japanese woodblocks: 'An extension of the Impermanent'". The Missoulian. 2014-01-31. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  28. ^ "Miss Aomori - Japanese Friendship Doll". www.bill-gordon.net. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  29. ^ "Large Costumed Doll, "Miss Japan"". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  30. ^ a b c d "Passports to Friendship". Japanese American National Museum. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  31. ^ Museum, Brooklyn (1922). Report Upon the Condition and Progress of the Museums. p. 8.
  32. ^ Endo, Emi (1995-03-04). "Schools Given Japanese Dolls In Gesture Of Friendship". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  33. ^ "Japanese Friendship Doll (Tôrei ningyô) Miss Fukuoka (formerly Miss Gunma) in full dress kimono with descriptive booklet". Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.
  34. ^ "Doll and accessories, 1927". National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  35. ^ "Consul General Shindo Travels to Cleveland" (PDF). Consulate-General of Japan and Detroit. April 2022.
  36. ^ a b "Miss Hiroshima (Friendship Doll)". Barry Art Museum. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  37. ^ Peake, Scott (2023-07-13). "History of the Collection". Putnam Museum. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  38. ^ "Japanese Friendship Dolls" (PDF). St. Joseph Museum (St. Joseph, Missouri) web site. July 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  39. ^ "Japanese Friendship Doll". Milwaukee Public Museum. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  40. ^ "Messenger of Friendship". Milwaukee Public Museum. Archived from the original on 2010-05-06.
  41. ^ "PastPerfect". Montana Historical Society. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  42. ^ "Birmingham Public Library - Miss Iwate".
  43. ^ a b c "Japanese Friendship Dolls". Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta.
  44. ^ a b Fields, Monique (1997-07-24). "The Search Is On To Find Missing S.F. Friendship Doll /..." SFGATE. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  45. ^ "Important Japanese "Friendship" Doll "Miss Kantoshu" with Accessories and Provenance". Theriault's. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  46. ^ "A Century of Exploration". carnegiemuseums.org. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  47. ^ Willems, Spencer (2012-09-16). "Japanese peace doll has its prewar glory". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  48. ^ Takahashi, Masashi (Fall 2003). "Welcome Back Miss Miyagi! Returning Home after 76 Years" (PDF). JGLC Newsletter. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  49. ^ Guthrey, Molly (2017-11-05). "She arrived in 1927 and then disappeared. What happened to Minnesota's friendship doll?". Twin Cities. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  50. ^ Scher, Adam (2018-04-09). "Miss Miyazaki Japanese Friendship Doll". MNopedia. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  51. ^ "Miss Nagano: The Japanese Friendship Doll". Delaware Historical Society. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  52. ^ Potts, Jennifer (2013-10-17). "A Special Reunion for Miss Nagano". This Morning is History. Archived from the original on 2013-12-22.
  53. ^ Gian Carlo Cervone. "[RMSC Collections Department] Nagasaki Tamako". Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
  54. ^ Shih, Savannah (2017-11-21). "New York Celebrates 90th Anniversary of Japanese Friendship Doll". Asia Matters for America. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  55. ^ "Collections Object Detail". Atlanta History Center. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  56. ^ "JAPAN DOLL BACK IN IDAHO - WITH SISTER". Deseret News. Associated Press. 1994-11-20. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  57. ^ "Miss Nara, 1927". Washington State University Libraries. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  58. ^ "Miss Oita". Springfield Museums. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  59. ^ "NDSU's 'Miss Okayama' to return to Japan for repairs". North Dakota State University. 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  60. ^ "Miss Mariko Okinawa: Doll". Cincinnati Art Museum. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  61. ^ "Miss Osaka - Japanese Friendship Doll". www.bill-gordon.net. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  62. ^ "Miss Osaka and Her Little Brother". www.bill-gordon.net. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  63. ^ Jennifer Messmer. "The Secrets of Our Collection - The Children's Museum of Indianapolis". Archived from the original on 2013-03-09.
  64. ^ "Almanac - Northeast News". 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  65. ^ "Collections (Northwest Museum of Arts + Culture)". Northwest Museum of Arts + Culture. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  66. ^ "Japanese refurbish Spokane friendship doll". Northwest Asian Weekly. 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  67. ^ Clifton, Guy. "A new cap for Miss Wakayama". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  68. ^ "Miss Yamagata - Japanese Friendship Doll". www.bill-gordon.net. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  69. ^ "Works – Miss Yamaguchi and Her Belongings – Collections". Museum of International Folk Art. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  70. ^ "Miss Yamanashi: Wyoming's Friendship Doll from Japan". wyomuseum.wyo.gov. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  71. ^ "Miss Yokohama". Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls & Toys. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  72. ^ "Denny Gulick, Ph.D". East Asian Scient and technology web site. University of Maryland. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  73. ^ Larson, Kirby (2012-05-08). The Friendship Doll. Random House Children's Books. ISBN 978-0-375-85089-9.

Further reading

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