Quick survey on the history of amigurumi

May 3rd 2016@daidaiBANANA

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Motivation

I could not find reliable information on the history of amigurumi on the web

Wikipedia claims that it is Japanese art– It is likely because “amigurumi”is definitely Japanese

word– But it sounds strange because crochet or knitting is not

Japanese origin

So what is the truth?

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Research method

Surveying only digital literature as reliable information– Note that “knit/crochet for making dolls” is natural and

amigurumi is expected to exist before it appears in literature

– Japanese and English literature are targets

Databases– Google– National Diet Library in Japan (Japanese)– HathiTrust Digital Library (English)

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The results

“Knitted doll”is found in 1850s– It predates that crochet came down to Japan

Crochet is major technique to make amigurumi in Japan– In contrast, knitting is major in the West– They are considered to have independently evolved

The word “amigurumi” appeared in 1951

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History of amigurumi in Japan

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Before Meiji era (~1867)

Knitting has come in 17th century Its applications are limited

– For samurai: glove, cover for helve of sward– For citizens: stocking

Knitting was a job for samurai in early 19th century

[References]● 日本メリヤス史(Nihon-meriyasu-shi), Masayoshi Fujimoto, 1914

17th century Stocking of Mitsukuni Tokugawa洛陽集(Rakuyo-shu, 1673-1680), 猿蓑(Saumino, 1690)

18th century 和漢三才図会(Wakan-sansai-zue, 1712), 長崎夜話草(Nagasaki-yawa-so, 1719), 和訓栞(Wakun-no-shiori, 1728)

19th century 嬉遊笑覧(Kiyu-syouran, 1830), 守貞漫稿(Morisada-Manko, 1836-)

Literatures which mention to knitting

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Re-introduction of knitting/crochet

Knitting and crochet were re-introduced in girls education as a part of Westernization in Meiji era– Establishment of girl's schools started on 1870– Western women were invited for teaching English and

(Western) needleworks

Introduction of Western caltures– 童女筌(Do-jo-sen, 1876)– Guidebook of girl's play– Knitting and crochet included,

but not amigurumi

[Reference]● 学制百年史（学制百年史編集委員会）第一章、第三節、三．明治初期の女子教育

http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/hakusho/html/others/detail/1317595.htm

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The earliest stuffed crochet object

「西洋毛糸編物教授(Seiyo-keito-amimono-kyouju)」大館利一(1887)– Motif: Twigged loquat with a leaf– (Maybe) the starting point of Japanese amigurumi

Plant motifs had appeared until 1920s– Loquat, persimmon, calabash, orange, ...

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Bell flower

Loquat

“...stuff with cotton and make its shape as a fruit...”

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Various motifs and techniquesYear Title Author Motif Technique

1908 手芸と編物 香蘭女史 doll crochet, flat

1927 婦人之友. 21(1) rabbittiger

knitting, circle

1928 新らしい今年の編物 美川咲子 rabbit(?), penguin(?)

procedure not given

1939 少女倶楽部. 17(14) (中島美恵子) penguinrabbit

Crochet, circle

(1908)(1927)

(1928)

(1939)

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Appearance of “amigurumi”

“Amigurumi” finally appears in 1951– 新手芸と服飾全集 (Shin-shugei-to-fukushoku-zenshu, Irse

Brasch, Ondori-sha)

The word“amigurumi”had been used only publications from Ondori-sha until the end of 1960s– => Ondori-sha may have invented the word

(1951) (1953)

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And then...

Publications were intermittent and got hot in early 1950s, 1970s, and from 1990s to date– Tomoko Takamori played an important role in 1990s'

fashion (according to Wikipedia)

Amigurumi books of anime/game/cartoon characters– Hello Kitty (1999)– Pokemon (1999)– Doraemon (2000)

Establishment of Japan Amigurumi Association (2002)– Amigurumi Collection (Vol.1) held in May 2001

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In the West

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From literature in 19th century

“knit/knitted doll” is found in/after 1850s– Catalog of exhibits and agricultural fairs– Nursery guides and novels (in which children appears)– Patent gazette (knitting machine)

How to make“knitted doll” appeared in 1873

[References]● The American farmer; devoted to agriculture, horticulture and rural life. ser.4

v.5-6 1849-51● United States congressional serial set. 3334 (1894-95)● Godey's magazine. v.86-87 1873

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Amigurumi in magazines (1929-)

The Vintage Knitting Lady (http://www.thevintageknittinglady.co.uk/) – The collection of magazines on knitting and crochet from

1920s to 1960s– Wildons, Lister, Bestway, etc.– Teddy bear (Wildons 21, crochet, 1929) seems to be the

earliest piece– Most of the amigurumi pieces are knitted

Photos from The Vintage Knitting Lady (http://www.thevintageknittinglady.co.uk/toypatterns.html)

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Some thoughts

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Technique comparison

Both knitting and crochet have appeared, but...– In the West: Knitting has been major– In Japan: Crochet has been major

=> It is natural to consider that amigurumis in the West and in Japan independently evolved

Why they chose different technique? It is still in the darkness

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The root of Japanese amigurumi

Irish crochet may be the root– Crochet lace developed in 1840s– Its feature is three dimensional representation– Some motifs (fruits and a lizard) are stuffed objects,

started with magic rings, based on single crochet– The techniques and (still-life) motifs are close to “stuffed

crochet objects”in Japan in 19th century

MET collection(ca. 1850)

G. Album de Guipure d'Irlande(Hardouin, 1905)

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(Tentative) Summary

The origin of amigurumi (knitted doll) is in Western countries (as expected)– The earliest appearance goes back to 1850s

It came to Japan after mid. 19th century– It came through the education for girls and/or the mission

at churches.– The first appearance in literature is in 1887 and the motif

was a fruit

The technique difference indicates that amigurumis in the West and in Japan have independently evolved

The word “amigurumi” appears in 1951

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Open problems

When did the word“amigurumi” arrive to Western countries?

Why Japanese do not chose knitting but crochet for amigurumi?

How is the relationship between amigurumi and other cultures such as manga and anime?

Note that my survey on the literatures after WW2 is poor

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Thank you for reading!

@daidaiBANANA (2016)