＜The Satsuma Itobina＞
The Satsuma Itobina in Japanese is called the Satsuma Yarn and Paper Dolls in English. The Itobina is called that it was started to make in the Edo era. Its another name is the Satsumabina. Its looks is strange. The strangest looks is that it has no face. Their hair made from the hemp stick to the body made from bamboo directly. The strong hemp shoulder big hope for health and long life. We think to give the Itobina for all girls don't care about because in common the Hina dolls is given to all girls. But giving to only the oldest daughter's is a custom. When an oldest daughter is born, her relative and friends of her parents make the Itobina with all thier heart. When the Girls' Festival comes in 3rd March, a family geven the Itobina display all dolls and compete the number of the Itobina.
All family make naturally in those days. They draw a picture on a paper looks like a apron for the beauty of the girl. If a girl will be born in family of your relative and friends, please be sure to make yourself and present them. They will be happy for your love. And it has pleasant to make them with your children during vacation.
Our owner made them as hard as she could. They wear the Oshima Tsumugi Silk. She is not good at making them yet, but she will improve future. The Itobina on the photo is the first work for her. It will be a valuable Itobina.
The second half of the photo are a development of the apron. It shows a process of making. At last the apron is glueed on the Itobina's body, so it can not be opened.
Only when there is no customer or a few customer in our shop, we make them. So if you want many pair of Itobina, it may need long time for making.
