About Japanese Ito-jime doll created by Eiju Shimizu


Eiju Shimizu and Jusaburo Tsujimura

Mastering the Legacy of Jusaburo Tsujimura's Ito-jime doll

Eiju Shimizu’s Ito-jime doll is a testament to a unique Japanese doll-making tradition pioneered by the late master doll maker Jusaburo Tsujimura, renowned for his puppets in NHK's Shin Hakkenden. 


Shin Hakkenden (broadcasted from April 2, 1973, to March 28, 1975, consisting of a total of 464 episodes.)

One of the most distinctive aspects of these dolls is that they are made entirely without the use of clay. Instead, the entire figure—from the face to the tips of the hands and feet—is shaped using a core made of wood wool (shavings), which is carefully molded into form with a traditional Japanese iron called a wagote.

This technique lends the dolls a distinctive softness and an almost lifelike quality. Since the wood wool expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity, the dolls appear to "breathe" and subtly transform, enhancing their organic charm.


Jusaburo Tsujimura(1933～2023)

 

Eiju Shimizu - A Unique Doll Artist and Heir to Tradition

Eiju Shimizu was inspired at the age of 12 by the puppets in NHK’s Shin Hakkenden and later studied under Jusaburo Tsujimura to master the art of Ito-jime doll-making. His creations bring historical and cultural figures to life with exceptional craftsmanship. As both a doll artist and a dentist, Shimizu’s dual expertise makes him a distinctive figure, contributing significantly to Japan’s cultural and artistic heritage.

Exhibitions and Features

  • 2010: Featured in the Takasaki Personalities Encyclopedia by Jomo Shimbun.
  • 2013: Doll exhibition at the Gunma Prefectural Museum of Modern Literature.
  • 2014: Solo exhibition at Gunma Prefectural Silk Museum.
  • 2015: Exhibition at Shinto Village Earring Museum.
  • 2016: Hana Moyu doll display at Maebashi Rinshokan.
  • 2017: "The World of Eiju Shimizu’s Itojime Dolls" exhibition at Tomioka Social Education Center.
  • 2018: Dolls featured in "Great Figures of Silk Trade and Old Noritake" at Gunma Prefectural Silk Museum.