doll, toy, toy

Doll performance a sitting samurai, made of ceramics. He wears, as usual, two swords, bow (in the right hand) and is dressed an armor of metal bleck and paper and “solemn costume” (formal costume of complex pattern weave and binding patterned silk) with wide sleeves (hirosode). On his back sits a headgear, attached around his neck. He holds in his right hand a broken military sunspring. Possibly for use in connection with the boys' day (5/5, now Children’s Day), when often practical samurai dolls appear. According to the general catalogue: “conception Taiko Sama....” Taiko is the title of the retired or otherwise retreated kampaku (corresponding to the “right hand of the emperor”); a system that lasted until 1868, although the power of the kampaku was probably quite small. (PH) Taiko - retired "kampaku (premier minsiter) [[Etno]]