Akabeko facts for kids

Akabeko (赤べこ, Akabeko, red cow) is a famous traditional toy from the Aizu region of Japan. It looks like a red cow or ox. The name Akabeko means "red cow" in Japanese. These toys are inspired by a legendary cow from the Aizu area.

The Akabeko toy is made from papier-mâché. It has two main parts: the body and the head with its neck. The head is attached to the body with a string. This design makes the head bob up and down when you move the toy. The first Akabeko toys were made a long time ago, around the late 1500s or early 1600s.

People in Japan believe that Akabeko toys can protect against illnesses, especially smallpox. Today, Akabeko is a very well-known craft from Fukushima Prefecture. It is a symbol of the Aizu region and also the larger Tōhoku region in Japan.

The Akabeko Legend

The story of Akabeko comes from an old legend in the Aizu area. It tells of a real cow that lived in the year 807 CE. A monk named Tokuichi was building a temple called Enzō-ji in Yanaizu, Fukushima. This special cow helped with the temple's construction.

One version of the legend says that after the temple was finished, the cow gave its spirit to Gautama Buddha. Its body then turned into stone. Another story says the cow simply refused to leave the temple grounds. It stayed there forever. This red cow was called akabeko, which means "red cow" in the local Aizu dialect. It became a symbol of strong dedication to Buddha.

Later, in 1590, a powerful leader named Toyotomi Hideyoshi sent Gamō Ujisato to rule the Aizu region. Ujisato heard the story of the red cow. He asked his artists from Kyoto to create a toy based on this legend. These early papier-mâché Akabeko toys set the design for all the toys that followed.

Around the same time, Japan had a serious smallpox outbreak. People in Aizu noticed something interesting. Children who owned Akabeko toys seemed to avoid getting sick. The red color of the toys might have helped this belief. Red charms were often thought to protect against smallpox. Because of this, Akabeko toys became very popular good luck charms against illness. This belief continues even today. The Akabeko toy is now one of the most famous crafts from Fukushima Prefecture across all of Japan.

How Akabeko Toys Are Made

Akabeko toys are made from papier-mâché, which is paper pulp mixed with glue. After shaping, they are painted and covered with lacquer. As mentioned, each toy has two main parts: the body and the head with its neck. The body is hollow. The head and neck fit into the body's opening, hanging from a string. This allows the head to bob around when the toy is moved.

Only a few family workshops still make Akabeko toys. They have passed down their special techniques for many generations. The whole process to make one Akabeko takes about 10 days.

First, the artisan wraps wet washi (Japanese paper) around two wooden blocks. One block is shaped like the cow's body, and the other like its head and neck. These wooden blocks are very old, often used by many generations of makers. Once the paper dries, the artisan carefully cuts it in half lengthwise. Then, they remove the wooden blocks. The molded paper pieces are then put back together by wrapping more layers of washi around them.

Next, the artisan paints the toy. They start with a black base. Then, they add the bright red color that Akabeko is known for. Finally, they paint the white eyes and other small details. The markings on the Akabeko can be different depending on the workshop. For example, the Igarashi family paints the Chinese character kotobuki (寿, meaning longevity and luck) on the cow's back. They also add a sun and moon on its side. Other workshops might add gold markings. The toy is finished with a thin coat of lacquer to protect the paint.

Images for kids

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  Akabeko at the Japanese American National Museum

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  Akabeko

See also

In Spanish: Akabeko para niños