FT221 - Miyazaki Kyōdo Ningyō Folk Doll – Tsurutomi-hime 鶴富姫

This elegant Miyazaki Kyōdo Ningyō (宮崎郷土人形) represents Tsurutomi-hime (鶴富姫), a legendary princess of the Heike clan, celebrated in local folklore for her tragic love story with Nasu Daihachirō during the Genpei War. This handcrafted doll from Miyazaki Prefecture captures the timeless grace of a noblewoman steeped in history and romance.

Dressed in a traditional brocade kimono and headscarf, she holds a wooden pestle (hietsuki stick) — a reference to the regional folk tradition of “Hietsuki-bushi” (稗搗節), a beloved minyō (folk song) sung while pounding millet in rural communities. The doll’s dignified pose and serene facial expression evoke the melancholy beauty of her story.

A small wooden cylinder accompanies the figure with a line from the song: "庭の山椒の木" (“The sanshō tree in the garden”), directly tying this piece to the cultural heritage and oral traditions of Takachiho, a town rich in myth and history.

Size: 10 x 7 x 29cm