Location: Tendo 天童, Yamagata Size: 7 x 10 x 2.3 cm
人間将棋 (Ningen Shōgi) – translates to "Human Shogi." This refers to a famous event held annually in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, where people dress up as life-sized shogi (Japanese chess) pieces on a giant board.
Tsuko-Tegata is a kind of wooden passport that was used in the Edo Period as an identity card for travelers when passing from region to region. They had been sold a lot in Showa period as mingei type souvenirs all over Japan. It's also a protector for safety and peace for family.
