Weekly News Digest
産経オンライン英会話 ニュースディスカッション教材
Since 1946, Mataro Ningyo has been making dolls that reflect the highlights and newsworthy people of the year, in a fun way to remember the year that just passed!
On November 25, traditional doll maker Mataro Ningyo in Tokyo’s Ueno district unveiled this year’s kawaribina, and they provide a terrific reflection on the people and events we marveled at and celebrated in 2021.
Kawaribina literally means “unusual dolls” or “dolls that change (every year).” Mataro Ningyo has been making these seasonal year-end memorial dolls annually since 1946. The then- shop founder, Kanabyashi Mataro, was looking for a way to express the views and feelings of the public. The company has been presenting kawaribina annually ever since, portraying the people or events that were in the news over the past year.
There are six themes this year. Right in front you’ll find baseball star Shohei Ohtani (27) of the Los Angeles Angels, who played superbly as both pitcher and fielder and was selected as the American League’s MVP (Most Valued Player).
Next to Ohtani you can find a person is being vaccinated by a nurse, reflecting the importance of combating the COVID-19 virus that was a global focus of attention. There were also two young skateboarders Yuto Horigome (22) and Momiji Nishiya (14), who won gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, and Dr. Syukuro Manabe, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Other highlights include Ueno Zoo’s beloved panda twins, and star Hideki Matsuyama, the first Japanese golfer to win the major men’s 2021 Masters golf championship.
The kawaribina are usually about 12 to 16 centimeters high. The piece that got the most attention was probably the one entitled “Throw! Hit! Showtime” featuring popular baseball player Shohei Ohtani in a uniform with a ball and a bat next to a female fan.
As the 59-year-old company president Kenji Kanabayashi said, “Last year’s kawaribina was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year we have more of a sports’ presence. Let’s hope there will be more bright news next year!”
The dolls are exhibited at the Shintaro Doll Hall in Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo. From December 1, 2021 to March 3, 2022, the day of Girl’s Festival, when it’s customary to display dolls for little girls in the family.
東京・上野の人形メーカー「真多呂人形」は２５日、今年の世相を反映した変わりびなを発表した。米大リーグで投打の「二刀流」として活躍し、ア・リーグの最優秀選手（ＭＶＰ）に選出されたエンゼルスの大谷翔平選手（２７）など六つの題材を取り上げた。
変わりびなは高さ１２～１６センチ。「投げた！打った！ショータイム」と題した作品は、ボールとバットを持ったユニホーム姿の大谷選手とファンの女性を並べた。 他の作品は、新型コロナウイルス対策の切り札として注目されたワクチン接種や、東京五輪の新種目スケートボードで金メダルを獲得した堀米雄斗選手（２２）と西矢椛選手（１４）など。
金林健史社長（５９）は「昨年の変わりびなは新型コロナ関連ばかりだったが、今年はスポーツの活躍が目立った。来年はもっと明るいニュースが増えてほしい」と語った。
一般公開は１２月１日から来年３月３日まで、東京都台東区上野の真多呂人形会館で。入場無料。