Takasagoya Minamikawa Doll Shop
Certified as a Traditional Craftsman of Katsushika Ward (2011)
Ms. Yoshiko Minamikawa, who runs Takasagoya Minamikawa Doll Shop, is a skilled artisan preserving the tradition of Edo Oshie Hagoita (decorative wooden battledore paddles).
She inherited the craft from her late husband and has continued to create each hagoita with care—from selecting pure silk fabrics to the final finishing touches—pouring her heart into every piece.
Supporting her work is fellow female artisan Michie Nitta, a veteran who trained directly under the previous generation and has devoted over 30 years to Edo Oshie Hagoita.
The hagoita produced by the two are celebrated for their soft and vivid color sense, uniquely feminine delicacy, and meticulous attention to costume layering and facial expressions, earning high acclaim from collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Takasagoya’s workshop attracts many customers throughout the year, not only during the seasonal hagoita market, seeking these exquisite works.
By preserving tradition while embracing contemporary sensibilities, Ms. Minamikawa embodies the true spirit of craftsmanship.
Ms. Yoshiko Minamikawa of Takasagoya Minamikawa Doll Shop places the utmost importance on creating hagoita as a “craft that lives with the times.”
Since hagoita are mainly sought during the year-end Hagoita Market, she spends the entire year preparing to deliver pieces worthy of this special occasion. From selecting pure silk fabrics and designing patterns to meticulously finishing every detail, there is no compromise in any step of her process.
Among her annual creations are the portrait hagoita, which capture notable figures or the spirit of the year, reflecting contemporary life within the traditional form of the hagoita. While staying attuned to the changes of the times, she never sacrifices the elegance and beauty inherent to Edo Oshie Hagoita.
At the heart of her approach lies the customers who eagerly await the Hagoita Market each year. Driven by the desire to deliver pieces that bring joy the moment they are held, Ms. Minamikawa continues to craft hagoita that leave a lasting impression on the hearts of those who receive them.
Oshie Hagoita is a vibrant traditional Japanese craft that emerged at the intersection of New Year’s culture and women’s handcrafts. Hagoita were historically also called Kokiban and were used for the New Year’s game of shuttlecock hitting (hane-tsuki), while also serving as gifts to welcome the New Year. They carry symbolic meaning, believed to ward off evil spirits with the feathers and to wish for children’s healthy growth.
Oshie Hagoita applies the technique of Oshie—a form of raised picture-making in which layers of fabric and padding are used to create three-dimensional patterns—onto the hagoita.
During the Edo period, Oshie developed primarily as a women’s craft, using small pieces of fabric to express beauty. Its delicate and soft aesthetic naturally complemented hagoita, which were closely associated with girls, elevating them into highly decorative art pieces.
By the late Edo period, the popularity of Kabuki theater inspired a trend of portrait hagoita, which depicted famous actors in their stage costumes. Hagoita featuring the elaborate costumes and dynamic poses of these actors became cherished both as souvenirs of theater visits and as New Year’s decorations.
In this way, Oshie Hagoita transcended its role as a plaything, becoming a symbol of popular culture that reflects the fashions and aesthetic sensibilities of its era—and this tradition continues to be treasured to this day.
Each piece is carefully crafted by a traditional artisan.
Takasagoya Minamikawa Doll Shop
Certified as a Traditional Craftsman of Katsushika Ward (2011)
Ms. Yoshiko Minamikawa, who runs Takasagoya Minamikawa Doll Shop, is a skilled artisan preserving the tradition of Edo Oshie Hagoita (decorative wooden battledore paddles).
She inherited the craft from her late husband and has continued to create each hagoita with care—from selecting pure silk fabrics to the final finishing touches—pouring her heart into every piece.
Supporting her work is fellow female artisan Michie Nitta, a veteran who trained directly under the previous generation and has devoted over 30 years to Edo Oshie Hagoita.
The hagoita produced by the two are celebrated for their soft and vivid color sense, uniquely feminine delicacy, and meticulous attention to costume layering and facial expressions, earning high acclaim from collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Takasagoya’s workshop attracts many customers throughout the year, not only during the seasonal hagoita market, seeking these exquisite works.
By preserving tradition while embracing contemporary sensibilities, Ms. Minamikawa embodies the true spirit of craftsmanship.
Ms. Yoshiko Minamikawa of Takasagoya Minamikawa Doll Shop places the utmost importance on creating hagoita as a “craft that lives with the times.”
Since hagoita are mainly sought during the year-end Hagoita Market, she spends the entire year preparing to deliver pieces worthy of this special occasion. From selecting pure silk fabrics and designing patterns to meticulously finishing every detail, there is no compromise in any step of her process.
Among her annual creations are the portrait hagoita, which capture notable figures or the spirit of the year, reflecting contemporary life within the traditional form of the hagoita. While staying attuned to the changes of the times, she never sacrifices the elegance and beauty inherent to Edo Oshie Hagoita.
At the heart of her approach lies the customers who eagerly await the Hagoita Market each year. Driven by the desire to deliver pieces that bring joy the moment they are held, Ms. Minamikawa continues to craft hagoita that leave a lasting impression on the hearts of those who receive them.
Oshie Hagoita is a vibrant traditional Japanese craft that emerged at the intersection of New Year’s culture and women’s handcrafts. Hagoita were historically also called Kokiban and were used for the New Year’s game of shuttlecock hitting (hane-tsuki), while also serving as gifts to welcome the New Year. They carry symbolic meaning, believed to ward off evil spirits with the feathers and to wish for children’s healthy growth.
Oshie Hagoita applies the technique of Oshie—a form of raised picture-making in which layers of fabric and padding are used to create three-dimensional patterns—onto the hagoita.
During the Edo period, Oshie developed primarily as a women’s craft, using small pieces of fabric to express beauty. Its delicate and soft aesthetic naturally complemented hagoita, which were closely associated with girls, elevating them into highly decorative art pieces.
By the late Edo period, the popularity of Kabuki theater inspired a trend of portrait hagoita, which depicted famous actors in their stage costumes. Hagoita featuring the elaborate costumes and dynamic poses of these actors became cherished both as souvenirs of theater visits and as New Year’s decorations.
In this way, Oshie Hagoita transcended its role as a plaything, becoming a symbol of popular culture that reflects the fashions and aesthetic sensibilities of its era—and this tradition continues to be treasured to this day.
