Tadaima: The Lost Dolls of Seattle’s Japanese American Community

MOHAI, 1973.5711.37

In Japan, Girls’ Day is celebrated with a display of dolls representing the Japanese Imperial court. A girl will typically be gifted the Emperor and Empress dolls before her first birthday, with other items added to the set over time. Much of the racism directed at people of Japanese decent was based on the idea that they were loyal to the emperor of Japan rather than the United States. So, while packing constraints were a main reason that students left their dolls at Bailey Gatzert, another major factor was that these items were considered risky or even dangerous to keep, lest their loyalty to the United States be called into question.

MOHAI, 1973.5711.9b

Girls’ Day dolls were originally meant for play, but over time, they became more elaborate and intended primarily for display. The dolls in MOHAI’s collection are meant for display and are miniature works of art, which is evident in their detailed features.

The Girls’ Day dolls are typically dressed in the style of court dress from the Heian Period (794 to 1185). During this time, women at court wore a series of kimono-like robes, layered on top of one another. That effect is recreated with small layers around the neckline of this and many other dolls in the collection. This figure may be Fuji Musume or “The Wisteria Girl,” a famous character in the Kabuki dance tradition.

MOHAI, 1973.5711.16

The Boys’ Day dolls typically portray samurai or other heroic figures from Japanese folklore. This figure is likely Momotarō, a character who was born from a peach as a gift from the gods to a childless woman. As an adolescent he left home on a quest to defeat a powerful group of oni (demons or ogres).