Miss Yokohama

A Story of Friendship

Miss Yokohama is Colorado's Japanese Friendship Doll. This artisan doll arrived in 1927 with 57 of her sisters. She is one of only 7 dolls created by the Ohki Heizo (Maruhei) Doll Company in Kyoto. She is 81cm tall, constructed of gofun, wood, human hair, glass eyes  and wears a yuzen dyed kimono with furosode sleeves. Upon arrival, the mayor of San Francisco, declared: "These dolls must be thought of as more than just dolls. They are expressions of goodwill, a binder of good faith between two great countries on either side of the Pacific ... they are ambassadors destined to accomplish much."

Miss Yokohama and her sisters represent a fascinating piece of diplomatic history between Japan and the US. In the 1920s, acting in belief that a better understanding between the people of the US and Japan, a former missionary to Japan , organized groups across American to collect “blue-eyed” dolls. These dolls were received with great fanfare in Japan. In response, the Japanese commissioned 58 dolls representing the imperial household, six cities, each prefecture and territories of Japan. Following their reception in San Francisco, the dolls toured the US and then found homes in appropriate institutions in each state.
Miss Yokohama was part of the Denver Public Library until she was donated to the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys.

Additional resources for Japanese Friendship Dolls:

PBS short video
National History Museum of Los Angeles