Hida Sashiko Sarubobo Doll

What is a sarubobo and why do people in Gifu Prefecture seem obsessed with it? These red dolls are actually regarded as baby monkeys (which is what sarubobo means in the local dialect) and have been used as amulets for babies and small children for centuries. The reason is that the Japanese word for "monkey" (saru) can also mean "go away," so a monkey doll was thought to keep away sickness and bad fortune. Does it work? Gifu people think so but regardless, a Hida Sashiko Sarubobo Doll works just as well as decoration for your home!

Made in Gifu Prefecture' Hida (which is what the Japanese characters on the chest say), the doll is red, a color often used in amulets in Japan, and measures 16 x 11 cm (6.3 x 4.3"). The Hida Sashiko Sarubobo Doll is dressed in a sleeveless haori vest and sits on a zabuton cushion, both decorated with a traditional Gifu sashiko weave pattern. Small enough to fit in a variety of places but large and bright enough to catch the eye, it is a beautiful specimen of Japanese folk art – and who can say no to a little extra good fortune!

Specs and Features:

• Made in Hida, Gifu Prefecture
• Dimensions: 16 x 11 cm (6.3 x 4.3")
• Comes with a zabuton sitting cushion