✳︎Product Name: Minato Ningyo Echigo Lion Set ✳︎Size: (approx.) Large: 4cm x 3.5cm x 5cm, Small: 4cm x 3.5cm x 6.5cm (Engraved: Recommended Souvenir of Niigata City, Minato Ningyo) ✳︎Manufacturer: Minato Ningyo Honpo Yanagiya ✳︎Production Year: Showa Period The Kakubei-jishi (lion dance) that served as the origin of the Echigo Lion originated in Tsukigata Village, Nishikanbara County. Originally, it began as a performance dedicated to local shrines, but eventually, they began to travel to other countries to work during the off-season for farming. In the past, there were over 30 masters, each forming a troupe with 7-8 dancers, and they toured various countries. The dancers were children around the age of 10, wearing lion masks, striped Ogura monpe (work pants), a swastika-patterned apron, black tabi socks, and high geta (wooden clogs). They performed handstands and somersaults to the accompaniment of the master's flute and drums. This acrobatic performance, which toured the country as street performers during the Edo period, disappeared at the end of the Meiji era. ◎⤵︎ Search Terms: #Folk Toys Folk Crafts One-stroke carving Wood carving Kippa Ningyo (wood chip dolls) Antique Street performance Solo performance Golden Shachi (dolphin-shaped roof ornament) Showa Retro Folk Art Kurama Tengu Minato Ningyo Honpo Yanagiya Sankaku Daruma (triangular Daruma doll) #Echigo Lion #Kakubei-jishi Kambara Lion Tsukigata Lion Tsukigata Lion's Child Lion's Child Shishidori (lion dance) Beeka Beeka-shu (lion dance performers)