Horse and foal, crafted with rich local culture and a heartfelt message for children

IntheNambudomain,oneofJapan'sleadinghorsebreedingregions,manyhorsetoyswereproducedOnesuchtoy,the"YawataUma"fromHachinoheCity,isconsideredoneofthe"ThreeFamousHorsesofJapan,"alongsidethe"KinoshitaKoma"fromMiyagiPrefecture,andthe"MiharuKoma"fromFukushimaPrefectureThename"YawataUma"issaidtohavecomefromthefactthatthesehorsetoysweresoldasofferingsduringtheannualfestivalatthe"KushihikiHachimanguShrine"intheYawataregion

Thebodies,dyedincolorsrepresentingthedifferenthorsecoats,blackforbay,redforchestnut,andwhiteforgrayaredecoratedwithChiyogamipaper,modeledafterthebridalattirewornbybrideswhenridinghorsesinthepastPatternsrepresentingstirrups,reins,andbellsarealsodrawnonthetoysToday,patternsrelatedtoHachinohe,suchas"Waribishi,""Mukaitsuru,""Abokyu,"and"Blacktailedgull,"aresometimespaintedonthehorsesNewdesignsoftheYawataUmathatreflectlocalsentimentwhilepreservingtraditioncontinuetoemerge,conveyingfreshcharm