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SOLSC #15 – The Dolls

It is March and time for the 17th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge!
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

I unwrapped the treasures carefully, unwinding the cushioning bubble wrap, slowly unfolding the packing paper; I knew that a gentle touch was required. There they were.

Dad’s dolls. 
Two clay male figures in traditional Japanese clothing. 
One a painter, 
One ‘outside,’ enjoying nature. 

My brother arrived with yet another bin of Dad’s things. He had packed and labeled this box for me a couple years back, at the time of my Dad’s death. The box got pushed to the far side of his basement, and forgotten. It was only when my brother was moving from his own house that he found the box again, and realized he had set this aside for me. 

I have a doll collection, not an extensive one, but a collection all the same. When I travel, I always look for locally-crafted dolls and choose one as a souvenir. 

I have long adored these two dolls of my childhood home.

I wonder if the ‘seed’ of my collection is these two figures. They feel precious to me, having been a fixture in my parents’ house since before I was born. They were always up high on a shelf, moving around the country with us through the years. I remember that we weren’t allowed to touch them. Interestingly, the nature figure’s right hand is broken and cracked – evidence that someone at some point had their hands on it. Was this someone, me? I admit to being very attracted to and intrigued by these kind figures. 

I wish I had pestered my father for the particulars of this purchase. I wish that he or I had written down the details. Their history is lost. 

I am able to read a stamp on their base, which states “Craftsman Hakata Doll MADE IN JAPAN.” According to Wikipedia

The Hakata doll gained fame when American soldiers took them back to the US as souvenirs during the American occupation of Japan following the Second World War. Japan started exporting Hakata dolls soon afterwards. At the same time, the Hakata doll became well known domestically, and factories began producing Hakata dolls of lesser quality.

Dad, who worked his entire career in the Navy, was not in Japan during the American occupation.  He went to Japan in the late 1950s, when he participated in ‘summer cruises’ as part of his course of study at the Naval Academy.

I have mixed feelings about these dolls. I am honored to have them, and yet troubled that these are tinged with war. 

I am reminded of Ross Gay’s exploration, in his book Inciting Joy, about the roots of things, how everything in our world is interconnected and complex and often involves violence and brutality –

Nearly everything we do, it turns out, causes harm to what and who we cannot conceive (the concealment of which, the inconceivability of which, is by design). 

(p 145)

Perhaps this quote strikes you as overly dramatic for a couple of clay dolls that I have inherited. Maybe it is. 

These dolls are complicated for me. I adore them. I wonder about them. I will continue to meditate about them. I think it is so beautiful that one is a painter and one is a lover of nature – these feel so inspirational to me, synchronistic with my own joys in life. 

I grew up alongside them. 

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9 Comments

  1. Maureen, I love that quote, which has us contemplate some of the possessions and habits in our lives that are complicated and messy and “cause(s) harm.” I think of some things that are hanging on my wall, from my father’s time in Japan in WWII, and some artifacts that my missionary aunt brought from what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Yikes, I need to meditate more on their origins. With you, “I grew up alongside them.”

    • Yes, that quote really made an impact on me; I am second-guessing these possessions. Thank you for your heartfelt response!

  2. Maureen, your post today is moving and provocative. Thank you for sharing the history of the Hakata dolls. I’m also going to check out Inspiring Joy book, and I love how you end your post today with “I grew up alongside them. ” I have often wished I had a parent or relative who could share some history about things and events. Your comments will be lingering in my mind for a long time to come.

    • My Dad often wrote notes on different artifacts and mementos, explaining where he got these; unfortunately, the dolls did not come with an explanation. We are piecing together what we remember. Thank you, Barb!

  3. Maureen,
    I have not read that particular Ross Gay book, but I love the quote and need the book. Your sentiments make total sense to me. This sentence expresses those ideas so well.” I am honored to have them, and yet troubled that these are tinged with war.” I’m also thinking about how the dolls can be a symbol of peace given their post-WWII status. They remind me of a set of porcelain dolls I have from my grandmother; she got them from an uncle who spent time in the army in Germany. I have them boxed up to avoid damage (some are damaged.).

    • The Ross Gay book is fantastic – I dog-eared practically every page; I’ve seen him talk about it twice; he’s amazing! Yes, I like thinking of these dolls as a symbol of peace. Thank you for that!

  4. Kim Johnson Kim Johnson

    That last paragraph and last sentence sounds like it could be about family – – which is perhaps a lot like what your dolls represent. Complicated feelings, sometimes unsortoutable. Those things we receive from parents are sometimes begging for answers. These are interesting, and perhaps in time they will be understood.

    • Oh, wow, good connection, Kim – my family is definitely complicated, so, I suppose it shouldn’t be surprising that these dolls bring me mixed feelings. I will treasure them, all the same – as I do my family! Thank you for this.

  5. […] my mother’s. My brother recently dropped off another box of things at my house (I wrote about the old dolls of my father’s earlier this month); today, I started to weed through some of the […]

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