Japanese Dolls at Anna Centenary Library in Chennai
It seems the sitting style shown in the below image is called ‘Seiza’, which is the traditional sitting style of the people of Japan. They sort of fold their thigh over their legs to sit in this position, and the below dolls represent this as well as the dressing of the Japanese people during festivities.
Since I was in Chennai for the weekend, I went to the Japanese Dolls exhibition conducted by the Japanese Embassy at the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai. This exhibition is on till 19th Feb 2011. The Japanese embassy has also donated a few books (in English) explaining about Japan, which are also kept in this library. People can just go there to see how brilliantly this library has been done – It looks more like an IT park than a Government library, with 9 floors and a capacity to accommodate 12,00,000 books. It seems, this is the biggest library in South Asia.
Coming back to the Japanese Dolls exhibition in the 2nd floor of this library, the following is the photo of Japanese dolls made using different varieties and colours/ patterns of cloth materials alone (the three dolls on the left).
The below photo is of a doll representing the famous ‘Yokozuna’ martial arts fighter in the Japanese ‘Sumo Wrestling’…
The following two photos are of the dolls representing Japanese Girls with traditional costumes…
The best ones are of the dolls representing Japanese kids… see them for yourself 🙂
The last photo is of the wooden dolls which are inexpensive and found more in rural Japan, its seems. I have always admired the Japanese. This is my second favorite country outside India, after Germany. So, if you are in Chennai you may not want to miss this exhibition, which contains many more such cute dolls… There is no entry fee BTW… So, you get to see the library as well as the exhibition… Don’t miss it!
Edited to add: I forgot to put in one more doll picture – this one was given to United States in exchange for a doll from there as a sign of friendship in the 1920’s, it seems. I love the spirit which this doll represents:
Destination Infinity
So cute dolls.
Loved the kids dolls….
The wood dolls are similar to what we get in india not sure from which state but i used to have those dolls someone brought for us from outside andhra.
First i saw Japanese costumes was in a tv serial in dd long back,one serial about a girl used to come on week days if i am not wrong,the girl name was oshin.I used to admire her,her walking style,her greeting people.It was a wonderful serial……
Oshene was a wonderful serial…. I saw some of the episodes and was impressed as well…. I thought it was a Chinese program! I want to see those episodes again – That, and another serial called ‘The Wonder Years’. These two made me think!! 🙂
Destination Infinity
I am in Chennai and have been thinking of visiting the Centenary labrary, but didn’t try to visit it! Now, I ill put my full effort to visit this place…
All dolls are very very beautiful
Well now you have a double opportunity… 🙂
Destination Infinity
I pass by this place once every week in the least! Very interesting indeed!
When I came by this way, there was no flyover from Cenotoph road and there was no library at all! How fast things are changing here…
Destination Infinity
Guys,
I recommended the author to visit this place and write about this topic…i guess i need to seek copytights for my ideas…:-) 🙂
A good write-up though…
Thanks for your recommendation… It was timely. I will put up the photos of the Semmozhi Park very soon…
Destination Infinity
Oshene was one of my all-time favourites…our entire family used to watch it 🙂
THis is the first time I am seeing something of this kind…Japanese dolls exhibition…and the pics are worth it… thanks for posting 🙂
Oshene was an awesome serial, I missed many episodes as I went to play at that time – now I regret for that! I must say, the Japanese dolls are different 🙂
Destination Infinity
Nice pictues and I loved each one ..
I remember my mum use to be so good she use to make these dolls and my sis had so many to play with when she was young ..
Thanks for posting lovely pictures really ..
Bikram’s
Making dolls is an art! You need to understand what the children might like and how to make them – both!
Destination Infinity
First a wow for the Centenary Library! Where in chennai is this? I have never seen this so far? It does look like a IT park 🙂
The dolls are so beautiful…I wish I have a few of them to be displayed for my Golu 😀
This one is opposite to the Planetarium… From Mount Road – Cenatoph Road – Go above Flyover – Right hand side. I am also seeing it for the first time! Chennai is going very fast. Maybe we can request the Japanese embassy for one – as a token of friendship 😛
Destination Infinity
Nice Dolls..
Need to bug my friends in chennai to go there and buy some.. 🙂
I guess they are not selling it… Its a part of the Japanese embassy’s program to popularize Japanese culture of some sort…
Destination Infinity
Lovely Pic – misssing chennai a lot – nice to see it is growing up so fast
jai hind
Yeah, even I was missing chennai a lot 🙂
Destination Infinity
These are so cute! I want them!!
🙂 Guess we gotta go to Japan for that…
Destination Infinity