A Form of Prayer Born From a Harsh Climate: The Wish Within the "Miharu-Koma"

In Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, lies "Deko Yashiki," a village of artisans that has thrived since the Edo period. Among its workshops, the oldest thatched-roof house, Hikoji Mingei, stands out. Today, it is the only place that continues to craft Miharu-koma using the time-honored tradition of carving each one individually from wood.

PROFILE

Daisuke Hashimoto

The 11th-generation head of Hikoji Mingei in Deko Yashiki. After a career at a television production company, he joined the family business in 2010. Following in the footsteps of his father and mentor, 10th-generation master Takanori, he has spent years honing the traditional painting techniques for Miharu-koma and Hariko papier-mâché dolls. Now, he's pushing the boundaries of tradition with exciting new projects, such as collaborations that fuse Miharu-koma with modern icons like "Ultraman" and "Pokémon."

The Miharu-Koma: Born from the Legend of a Wooden Horse

The origins of the Miharu-koma, one of Japan's three great "koma" (horse figurines), trace back over 1,000 years to the Heian period. It all began with a legend about the great general Sakanoue no Tamuramaro.

In the midst of battle, the cornered general was saved by a herd of 100 wooden horses that appeared out of nowhere. The legend says that a wooden horse charm he received as a protective amulet from Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto transformed into real horses to aid Tamuramaro.

This legend eventually spread, and the Miharu-koma, modeled after the shape of a horse, came to be made as a good luck charm for the healthy growth of children.

The Miharu domain, which once ruled this area, was home to many wild horses. During the Edo period, it prospered as a horse-breeding region, raising high-quality warhorses and farm horses.

Modeled after the strong and powerful horses of Miharu, the Miharu-koma was created as a lucky charm to wish for children's health and robust growth. It is also a form of prayer, kept close by people living in a harsh land, who wished for their children's development and family's happiness.

The black Miharu-koma is known as a "child-rearing horse," traditionally cherished as a charm for a child's healthy growth and fertility. The white Miharu-koma, on the other hand, is made to wish for longevity and protection from illness.