Naga372 Japanese patriotic wife ceramic bisque doll

Ceramic bisque with overpainting figure of the founder of the Dai Nippon Kokubo Fujinkai (大日本国防婦人会), the Greater Japan Women’s Association for the Protection of the Country, reorganized in Showa 7 (1932) as an association of patriotic wives in Osaka. This group later co-existed as a national association with an older women’s society founded as the Aikoku fujin kai (愛国婦人会)　(Patriotic Wives Association) in 1900 by Okumura Samoko ( 1845-1907) (奥村五百子)and Konoe Atsumaro (近衛篤麿) that had, in 1902, become a primary association for wives of the nobility and new upper classes. In its heyday, it had 3,380,000 members. In 1942, both organizations were reformed into what became the Dai Nippon Fujinkai (The Greater Japan Women’s Association). All women of 20 years of age and older were forced to join this latter organization by the State. Until it was disbanded at the end of WWII in June of 1945, this organization was saddled with the sad task of retrieving spent weapons, drilling in defense of the country, sending troops off to the front and receiving them on return (if they did), as well as aiding in the provision of welfare for surviving families. Ladies of the 1932 Dai Nippon Kokubo Fujinkai wore white aprons called kappogi, and tasuki (strings to hitch up kimono sleeves). Their motto was ‘National Defense Begins in the Kitchen’ (Kokubo wa daidokoro kara). The charming but historically tragic figure of a Japanese housewife in a kappogi, wearing a banner of the Greater Nippon Women’s Association for the Protection of the Country is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by women. This figure is doubly interesting because it is of the original group formed in Osaka to provide hot tea and comfort to the soldiers going off to the war in China, before ALL Japanese women were enjoined in such efforts. She is still a volunteer. If the figure is not of Okumura, then it might be in the likeness of Mrs. Yasuda who founded the group in Osaka. Very rare and of great historical interest. Width of base 6.5 cm, height 22.5 cm.

naga372 Ceramic bisque  $69.00 (shipping & packing available) We accept VISA and MASTERCARD See more at Richard Arts