It is a hagoita--a paddle used for an old girl's game called hanetsuki that was played usually on New Year's day (January 1... I only write that date down because, well, other cultures do have different New Year's days...).
Similar in scope to badminton, a shuttlecock (hane) was whacked back and forth between two girls. Obviously... this front highly decorated portion of the hagoita was not used to hit the hane - the reverse flat side was.
Apparently there were no nets involved - just keeping the hane afloat like a game of hackey-sack - was the point. However, should a girl miss the hane, her face would be smeared in ink. The game would continue until one girl's face would be completely covered in ink. Sounds like fun, ne (eh)?The hagoita paddles are part of a ritualistic health blessing to the girls given at birth, and is thus a good luck charm. Rumour has it that it was also a way of providing protection against mosquitoes. If so, it's the world's best looking fly-swatter.
The game is no longer played in Japan, but like all things in life, the hagoita paddles have become collectible decorative items--which explains why I have one.
This was given to me by a student over at Nozaki Chu Gakko (Nozaki Junior High School) - what great kids (now adults and parents probably in 2010!)
Traditionally, the front artwork is created through the Japanese art of washi (hand-molded paper), through mine has elaborate needle and thread work. It's three-dimensional plush and pasted to the wooden paddle to protrude like a relief. Mine depicts a beautiful woman in kimono--in this case, I believe it is a geisha - though other hagoita features portraits of popular Kabuki (style of performance play) characters or actors, or the more modern anime (cartoon) figures.
The reverse of mine is painted with a bamboo grove design--as well, mine is a more traditional paddle size of about 60 centimetres (2-feet) long.
There is a Hagoita Ichi Fair held in the Asakusa-area of Tokyo on December 17-19 every year. Started about 350 years ago during the Edo jidai (when Japan was essentially closed to foreigners - read about it HERE).
It's set up at the Senso-ji (ji means temple) grounds with about 50 kiosks set up with vendors hawking nothing but their hagoita wares. It's a spectacular fair with some 300,000 visitors annually attending.
Somewhere there is ink smeared on a young girl's face,
Andrew Joseph
Today's title is by Motley Crue - HAIRSPRAY.
And, since that sexist hair-metal song may not be everyone's cup of tea... maybe you'll enjoy this clip about paddles from a Simpson's substitute elementary teacher. It's one of my all-time favourite lines to quote: JASPER.
PS - Today's entry is my 200th Blog of Rife. Happy Blog-day to us!
PS - Today's entry is my 200th Blog of Rife. Happy Blog-day to us!
