Back in America print and magazines are languishing but in Japan there’s a magazine for everything.

There is even a four-times a year Bellydance Japan magazine… and I contributed heavily to their MOOK about how to create bellydance costumes.

So, it was a dangerous discovery when I realized I could buy used copies of old “Dolly * Dolly” ドーリィ*ドーリィ magazine/books (colloquially called MOOK) on Amazon Jp. It contains doll reviews, how-to articles on constructing doll items, doll clothing patterns, and various features about different aspects of doll life.

And Dolly Dolly Vol.4 from 2004 had multiple articles on doll trunks so I started justifying purchases there.

Disclaimer: I do not have a scanner at home. These scans were done at my local convenience store when I was tired, which is why some areas of the page are cut off.

I am also not a translator. I’m doing this for my Japanese practice but my Japanese translation style is more “getting the jist of it” than it is “accurate”… so if you have feedback please present it with kindness. I want to learn more but I don’t wish to be scared off.

The first article features work and an introduction by doll artist Ryo Hada. I can’t find much on 波田亮 . The listed web page https://www.ryo-hada.com seems to be out of commission. It seems they also go by the name Aquirax Kuroda now and create a lot of cat-related art.

Original Japanese text follows English.

Dream doll trunk

“There is a story about the marten’s pelt attached to this overcoat”

“There’s also a trunk, let’s open it and see”

What came from within were various doll costumes so resplendent they dazzled the eyes.

Dance clothing, walking clothing, tea time outfits, items trimmed in green lace and silk stockings! And then chokers, muffs, gloves, hats and lace fans and such!

The above quote is attributed to Frances Burnette, translation into Japanese by Ayame Mizushima, from the 7th chapter of A Little Princess published by blah blah blah (sorry)

It’s a famous scene from ”A Little Princess”, which I’ve ecstatically read time and time again since I was a young girl.

More than the story of Sarah Crewe, the generous protagonist of high birth by chance, or the scene in which Sarah gets her famous doll Emily, I was enraptured by the doll present itself.

The elegantly shimmering silk cape, the meticulously folded skirt with its hemmed pleats and petticoat edged with lace shipped from France. To be spellbound by a trunk packed to the brim with precisely made clothing and accessories, all miniature sized.

And there’s also our small friend’s wardrobe, and there’s a room, and there’s a secret universe all amazingly packed tightly into this dream doll trunk. Even now as a grown up, it thrills the deepest reaches of my brain.

It can honestly be said this is an homage to A Little Princess.

(Smaller Blurb)

Magic of Antique Doll Unsolved magic

Doll artist, Ryo Hada’s runk case is a two tiered construction. The lower section has a set place for the doll: neck, waist, arms and legs are secured. First of all, the size of the doll determines what sort of basket is proper, various sizes of dolls will affect construction methods. (The pictures doll is approximately 40cm)

夢のお人形トランク

「外套には、物語の貂の毛皮がついているわ」

「トランクもあるわ、開けてみましょう」

中から出たのは、目もまばゆほどにきらびやかな、おにんぎょうの衣装

の、かずかずだった。ダンス服、散歩服、お茶時の服、レースの緑飾りや、絹のくつ下。それから首飾りや、ムッフや、手ぶくろや、帽子や扇やー。

(バーネット作・水島あやめ訳大日本雄弁会講談社世界名作全集第7巻『小公女』より)

小さいな女子の頃から、繰り返し読んではうっとりいた、「小公女」の名シーンである。

主人公セーラ・クルーの誇り高い心や素敵な偶然に支配されたストーリーよりも、セーラと有名彼女のお人形、エミリーの出会いの場面や、このめくるめくお人形プレゼントに心惹かれた。

上品に光るシルクのケープや丁寧にたたまれたスカートの裾のプリーツにフランス渡りのレースのペティコート。。。ミニチュアサイズで呆れるほどきちんとつくりこまれている小物やお人形のお洋服がギッシリ詰まったトランク。

小さな友だちのワードローブでもあり、お部屋でもあり、秘密の宇宙でもあった「うっとり」がぎゅうぎゅうに詰まった夢のお人形トランク。大人になった今も、脳味噌の奥が痺れてしまう。バーネット夫人は「小公女」によって多くの女の子に人形への果てしない物欲を覚えさせてしまったに違いない。

この特集は実を言うと「小公女」へのオマージュである。

Magic of Antique Doll 解けない魔法

人形作家波田あきらのトランクケースに重構造

底の部分に人形がセットされ、首・ウェスト・手・足が固定されます。まず程よいバスケットを用意してからお人形のサイズを決めるため、作品によってお人形の大きさはまちまちだとか。(このお人形のさいず:約40cm)

Description of the outfit with the apron and head cover

Commonly sold lace was too thick so I ordered some lace to be specially made abroad for the trim on this traditional French costume.

一般に販売されているレースで厚すぎるので海外の工場に頼んで特別つくってもらってというレースをあしらった、フランスの民族衣裳。

Main description of the work shown.

Magic of Antique Doll, Unsolved Magic.

Doll Creation

Written by Ryo Hada

From grandmother to mother to daughter, European antique dolls have been handed down for generations. Within this doll trunk are dresses from various eras as if to give an impression of the history of clothing. It’s this sort of essence of antique dolls that artist Namda is trying to create in their doll trunks. The doll begins with a traditional French peasant costume and goes until 1980’s era inspired clothing with her 5 outfit set, the sort of doll that would be treasured in any European home. Making it a trunk set that passes beyond its eras and onward into timelessness/eternity

Magic of Antique Doll 解けない魔法

創作人形

By Ryo Hada

祖母・母・娘へと代々受け継がれているヨーロッパのアンティークドール。そのトランクケースの中にはそれぞれの時代につくられたドレスが入っていて、まるで服飾史をたどるよな感覚だといいます。そんなアンティークドールのエッセンスをもらって製作しているという波田さんのトランクケース。オールビスクのお人形ち実際にフランスにあった民族衣装からはじまる1980年代ぐらいまでの衣装のイメージしたドレス5着がセットされ、本当にどこかのヨーロップのお家で大事にされてきたもののよう。「時代」を超える魔法が永遠にかかっている、そんなトランクセットになっています。

Under photo of the yellow dress:

From 1860’s-1870’s inspired fashion comes this day dress for traveling, a straw hat, parasol, and suitcase are included with the look.

1860年～70年ぐらいに旅行ったデイドレス風ファッション。表わら帽子や日傘、トランクもちゃんとセットさせれている。

Under the photo of the outfit with fur muff:

A hat completes the cute coat in this Twiggy-evoking look. It’s a taste of the 1970’s in this ensemble for going out.

帽子とお揃うのキュートなコートはちょっぴりツイギーを意識して。1970年代のテイストをちりばめたお出かけ着。

(Right hand text)

Nice to meet you. First, please give me a name.

Ryo Hada’s doll has not yet been given a name. The reason is because “I believe that the doll is completed only when the person who has purchased the doll has given it a name .” These aren’t just decorations or disposable items. Position them in a central location “ so you can continue to get the most out of them through playing.” If they spend their days being loved they become exceptional special dolls.

In the left hand corner of the page there is an additional blurb about awards given to and exhibitions including Ryo Hada from 1996-2004 but I was tired so I’m ending it here for today.

はじめましてまずは私に名前をつけてください。

波田さんのお人形には名前がつけられていません。なぜなら「買われた方が名前を付けてはじめて人形が完成すると思っています。」飾りっぱなしではなく、かといって使い捨てでもない。そのちょうど中間に位置する。「遊びの中で生かされ続ける人形」だからこそ。時代を超えて愛される、特別なお人形になるのでしう。