Sep. 26, 2009 (The Yomiuri Shimbun) -- A guidebook featuring dogu clay figures made during the Jomon period (ca 10,000 B.C.-ca 300 B.C.) that were excavated in Iwate Prefecture has become increasingly popular among local residents.
Fascinated by dogu, Midori Yoneyama, a 48-year-old graphic designer of Morioka, and Hiroko Sakai, a 43-year-old illustrator of Ishioka, Ibaraki Prefecture, coauthored the book, titled "Iwate Dogu Guidebook--Dogu Okoku" (kingdom of dogu), published by Two One Life Ltd. They say they hope their efforts will increase interest in dogu across the nation.
More than 2,000 dogu have been excavated in Iwate Prefecture, the highest figure recorded by a single prefecture. A total of 60 dogu and other clay items, such as a clay plate with a human face, are covered in the book, which features photographs chosen from about 3,000 that Yoneyama took over the years. Sakai contributed illustrations and cartoons.
In addition to providing information about the artifacts, the text also expresses the authors' feelings toward them. For example, the comment attached to three pictures of the head of a large dogu found at the Shidanai site in Morioka, says, "It looks like the face of a man, doesn't it?"
The book also features maps and site locations. As the authors also are keen for children to develop an interest in dogu, kana characters have been included.
Yoneyama first became interested in dogu nine years ago after being invited by a friend to visit a dogu site in Tono.
"Dogu faces seem to have a different expression depending on the angle from which they're viewed," Yoneyama said. "The fact that none of them look alike also is interesting."
Sakai, who has worked on many comics and illustrations featuring the Jomon period, has known Yoneyama for some years. However, the two women only learned of their mutual interest in dogu two years ago.
Last autumn, they held a joint dogu exhibition in Hanamaki and other locations in the prefecture using Yoneyama's pictures and Sakai's illustrations.
"Publishing the book took a long time, due to such factors as repeatedly checking facts. But I'm really satisfied with the end product," Yoneyama said.
Sakai said she hoped the book explained the charm of dogu to the public, adding that it was very difficult to choose the 60 items that made it into the book.
