If they look like rackets, it's because hagoita really started life as paddles for the Japanese ancestor to badminton, over 1,300 years ago. The game is called hanetsuki and its hagoita paddles and shuttlecocks were considered auspicious because the Japanese word for the material used to make the shuttlecocks sounded like the phrase "the child isn't sick." After the Edo period (1603–1868), hagoita decorated with sculptural images became a trend and the Kyugetsu Geisha Hagoita with Case is a beautiful example of that tradition as it continuous to this day.
The Kyugetsu Geisha Hagoita comes in a 38 x 27 x 71 cm (15 x 10.6 x 28") glass case, so from the moment you get it out of the box, it's ready to take its place in your home or office. It features an image of a young Japanese woman dressed in a spectacular kimono made of silk and standing in front of a golden silk screen. Like all hagoita, the geisha-like figure is pictured from the waist up but the work that has been done for the clothing, face, and hair is so exquisite, you won't even notice the missing part!
Specs and Features:
- Dimensions: 38 x 27 x 71 cm (15 x 10.6 x 28")
- Comes with case, decorative temari ball, and "auspicious" plaque
- Made by historical Tokyo doll maker Kyugetsu (est. 1836)
- Made in Japan