“Japan is the Stairway to Heaven for Doll Collectors” states Rinkya President Heather Russell. ” Because Dolls have been an integral part of Japanese culture and tradition for over a 1000 years.”
Japanese Hina Dolls trace their roots back to the Heian Period over 1000 years ago. On March 3 The Doll Festival known as Hina Matsuri , or “Girl’s Day” is celebrated by family gift-giving of special ceremonial dolls to insure the future happiness of daughters. Hina dolls are replicas of the Empress and Emperor and their Court and are displayed on bright red cloth. Complete Hina sets handed-down from generation to generation can be valued at over $10,000.
The All-American Barbie Doll, first introduced in 1959 by the Mattel Corporation was originally manufactured of vinyl in Japan by KBK (Kokuasai Boiki Kaisha). Barbie’s clothes including her buttons were hand-sewn by Japanese housewives. Today Vintage Barbie Dolls and accessories stamped Made In Japan command high prices in the Collectibles market.
Among the latest trends for collectors are high-quality customized dolls known as Dollfies, Super Dollfies, and Unoa Dolls.
Super Dollfies (Doll and Figure) are polyurethane resin ball-jointed dolls made by Volks, Inc headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. Collectors of Super Dollfies get to choose everything including Skin tone, make-up, eyelashes, eyeballs, wigs, clothing (lưới an toàn ban công bảo ngọc), houston astros hoodie and accessories to make their doll unique. A Limited Edition Super Dollfie can easily cost over $1,000.
Unoa Dolls created by former Volks designer Gentaro Araki are ball-jointed dolls that snap into place. Unoa Dolls normally are sold as a kit to be assembled and painted by the collector. But there are kits personally painted by Gentaro Araki sold only by lottery.
Most Japanese Dollmakers do not sell or ship dolls outside of Japan. Fortunately, Russell’s company, Rinkya, a Japan Auction and Shopping service, is set up to do just that. “Rinkya” states Russell, ” will guide Doll Collectors through the intricacies of buying Dolls from Japan and ship them Internationally. Our goal is to bring happiness to girls of all ages every day.”
write by Mitchell Sandson