Kyugetsu Akabeko Plush Toy

Cuddly version of Tohoku region traditional folk toy

There are many things that make Aizu, one of the regions of Japan's Fukushima Prefecture, famous. Most have to do with its samurai but one that is very dear to the hearts of the Japanese is a folk toy called an akabeko, or red cow. Based on a legend that goes back to the early 9th century and which involves a real cow that supposedly lived in the precincts of a temple called Enzoji (which still exists in Aizu today), these toys are usually made of papier-mâché and have a moving head like a bobblehead doll. The Kyugetsu Akabeko Plush Toy is a different take on that popular concept.

Improvisations on a beloved theme can be tricky but the craftspeople that created the Kyugetsu Akabeko Plush Toy did a great job. As you would expect, since they belong to Kyugetsu, a workshop that has been building toys and dolls in Tokyo since 1836. Measuring 19 x 9 x 8 cm (7.5 x 3.5 x 3.1") and brightly colored in the classic red, black, and white colors of the akabeko you can find all over Aizu, this is both a toy and a beautiful ornament any Japanophile will appreciate!

Specs and Features:

  • Plush version of traditional akabeko toy
  • Dimensions: approx. 19 x 9 x 8 cm (7.5 x 3.5 x 3.1")
  • Made by historical Tokyo doll maker Kyugetsu (est. 1836)
  • Made in Japan
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US$ 33