Introducing My Grandmother

FUJII Takae
FUJII Takae
(1899-1988)

My grandmother FUJII Takae was born in 1899 as a daughter of FURUE family at Kawahigashi in TOJYO town.
When she was a child, FUJII family adopted her.
She took grandfather Masae in marriage. He was a teacher of elementary school. They had 3 children who are my aunt, uncle and father.

She started making Japanese dolls from 1955. After the grandfather's death in 1960, she devoted herself to making Japanese dolls.
I was living together with her from my childhood to her death in 1988 except 8 years when I was studying in university and working at the head office in OSAKA.
I remember that she was always sitting on the veranda of detached house and making Japanese dolls silently.

 


Responses from the Viewers

Since I opened these pages of my grandmother's dolls, I have been getting the responses not only from the viewers inside Japan but also from the foreign countries.
Let me introduce some responses from the foreign countries.

Click for enlarging [Ms.Beverly Fradenburg](April, 2000)
Your dolls are beautiful. My mom made dolls in the 1970's. We lived in Japan for 5 years. Mom is japanese and I'm half. I only have a few dolls myself. As soon as I get a scanner, I can send you a picture.

Ms.Beverly Fradenburg sent me some photographs(Right) of Japanese dolls that her Japanese mother had made when they had been in Kumamoto, Japan. The dolls made by her mother are very similar to my grandmother's. I think she might learn how to make dolls from the teacher of the same style as my grandmother's teacher.
As Ms.Beverly Fradenburg told her friends and colleagues to see these pages, they also sent me the responses.

[Ms.Cathy Wilson](May, 2000)
Thank you for sharing your Grandmother's dolls on your Web site.They are so beautiful. Your site is very interesting.

I hear that Ms.Cathy Wilson is the boss of Ms.Beverly Fradenburg's office.

[Ms.Teresa Welch](November, 2001)
I loved the pictures of your Grandmothers dolls (the detail is amazing) and I can't wait to show them to my son....

Ms.Teresa Welch is a Sister-In-Law of Ms.Beverly Fradenburg.

[Ms.DEBORAH FERGUSON](August, 2000)
MY SON AND DAUGHTER IN LAW SHOWED ME YOUR WEBSITE. ALTHOUGH I AM NOT JAPANESE, MY DAUGHTER IN LAW IS. YOUR DOLLS ARE EXQUISITE. THEY ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS I HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.

People who have Japanese relatives or people who are interested in dolls seem to get to these pages by search-engines of Internet.

Click for enlarging [Mr.Ralph Turner](October, 2000)
You have a beautiful web page. Your grandmother's dolls are also beautiful. May I download the pictures for future reference?

Mr.Ralph Turner has a hobby of Paper Craft. He made a paper doll(Right) by referring to the pictures of my grandmother's dolls and the other web sites about KIMONO.
You see it is very nice doll. I suggested him that he had better to make many dolls in national costumes of the world and to show them to the world by making web pages on Internet.


[Mr.Dean Manasses](January, 2001)
Just wanted to say that your grandmothers dolls are absolutely beautiful!

Mr.Dean Manasses gave me his highest possible praise on my grandmother's dolls by a short sentence.

[Ms.Naomi Graham-Diaz](September, 2001)
I would have to say that these dolls are some of the most beautiful dolls that I have seen, not only with their gorgeous kimonos but with their expressions and their pose...each of them tell a story.

Ms.Naomi Graham-Diaz has a web site which is called "Immortal Geisha". She explains the accurate and detailed information about Geisha girls from the historical and cultural views.

[Ms.Johanna in Germany](February, 2004)
I just saw those amazing dolls your grandmother has done. The most beautyfull dolls I ever saw!!! The face expressions, the unique kimonos, the colors, everithing is reach in details and I just wait for the dolls to stand up and dance for me!!! So much life inside!!!

Ms.Johanna has a German web site which is called "Doll Design Atelier". In her site, you can see many beautiful dolls which are reappearing the beautiful ladies of the world.

Thanks for the good responses from everyone in the world.
I think my grandmother never supposed that her works would be seen by the people all over the world.


Thank you for coming.
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