This vintage Japanese folk craft from Takasakiyama (高崎山) depicts a playful wooden monkey known as “Maga-saru” (魔がさる / 魔が去る), an auspicious wordplay traditionally associated with driving away misfortune.
The expression 魔が去る (ma ga saru) literally means “evil or misfortune goes away.” The final word saru (去る, “to leave”) sounds the same as saru (猿), “monkey,” making the monkey a playful symbol of protection and good fortune. This kind of linguistic pun is often found in Japanese folk toys and lucky charms.
The connection with Takasakiyama, a place strongly associated with monkeys, makes the design especially fitting. Rather than being a refined decorative sculpture, this piece has the warm, humorous quality of a regional omiyage and folk souvenir—simple materials transformed into an object carrying both local identity and auspicious meaning.
A delightful piece of Shōwa-era Japanese folk craft, perfect for collectors of vintage Japanese souvenirs, monkey-themed objects, engimono (縁起物), and rustic woodcraft. Its age-related wear, fading and imperfections form part of its genuine vintage charm.
