★ RARE collector piece - Vintage Japanese Sukagawa Dorei bell by Mizushige Kikuchi - Catfish Yokai - NAMAZU ★
Namazu is a colossal catfish living beneath the Earth, believed to be the cause of earthquakes. Whenever Namazu moves, the ground trembles, leading to earthquakes. The deity Kashima, or Takemikazuchi in some versions, is responsible for restraining Namazu with a sacred stone.
This bell was created by Mizushige Kikuchi, who quit his job in 1970 and opened the Rokumo kiln in Sukagawa. After death of the artist in 1995, it was abolished after one generation.
NAMAZU Japanese Dorei Bell Yokai Catfish Rokumo Kiln Folk Art Toy Mingei
★ SHOWA RETRO - 1980s ★
★ DIMENSIONS : H 5.5 cm x W 7.5 cm x D 6 cm ★
★ MATERIAL : CLAY - GLAZE - SILK - PAPER BOX ★
★ ARTIST : MIZUSHIGE KIKUCHI, ROKUMO KILN ★
★ ORIGIN : SUKAGAWA, FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE ★
★ BROWN - WHITE - RED ★
★ NEW OLD STOCK ★
★ MADE IN JAPAN ★
★ NESTED IN ORIGINAL BOX ★