Toys Played with by Fujito Takeki- Garigari Tombo (Dragonfly)

Abstract

Takeki Fujito was a leading Hokkaido sculptor and artist of Ainu origin. He started wood carving at the age of 12, spent three years by Lake Akan from the age of 15, and later worked in Asahikawa and other locations throughout Hokkaido. In 1964, he built the “Bear House”, a store and residence by Lake Akan, and in 1970 married Shigeko, with whom he had two sons and a daughter. In 1998, in addition to the “Bear House”, he built the Takeki “Fujito Wood Carving Museum.” In 2017, he held a solo exhibition, “The World of Takeki Fujito, Woodcarver.” At the Sapporo Art Museum venue, Takeki Fujito was demonstrating wood carving. At this exhibition, the author was introduced by Takeki Fujito to “Garigari Tombo ,” a dragonfly that he used to play with as a child. The propeller is 10 cm long and the shaft is 20 cm long. The propeller is 10 cm long and the stick on the shaft is 20 cm long. The shaft has a series of grooves carved on it. The propeller and the shaft are fixed with a nail. In addition, there is a stick that vibrates the dragonfly. This stick is 20 cm long and tapers toward the tip. The propeller rotates by rubbing against the stick. In this paper, the author records the method of making Garigari Tombo introduced to me by Takeki Fujito, as well as the background and method of playing with it. The author received help from Shigeko, Takeki's wife, in writing this article.