"Maki no Tai-guruma" is a traditional folk toy made from bamboo and Japanese paper, which has been passed down in the Maki region of Niigata Prefecture since the late Edo period.
During its heyday in the early Showa period, the Tai-guruma (sea bream-shaped cart) was so beloved in the community that it was said "there was as many Tai-guruma as there were children."
In the twilight hours of the Obon festival, the sight of children dressed in yukata pulling illuminated carts shaped like鯛 (sea bream) and rattling along the gravel roads was once a characteristic scene of late summer in this area.

The exact origins are unclear, but since it is a ritual performed during the Obon festival, it is said to have started as a Buddhist ceremony to welcome one's ancestors.

This tradition, which at one point nearly died out as there were no longer any shops making it, has now been revived by a citizens' group called the "Tai-guruma Revival Project."
We continue to promote its appeal to people both within and outside the prefecture, as well as overseas, through workshops, events, and other activities.

This time, we had the historic "Maki no Tai-guruma" finished in a chic, Special order black color.
This is a special item that blends traditional techniques with a modern aesthetic.

*Because these items are handmade, there may be slight variations in size and other characteristics from one item to another. Please understand this in advance.
*The color may look different from the actual color depending on the lighting and viewing environment of your computer. Please note.
*Please refer to the image taken of the product alone for the color of the product.

Click here for 50th anniversary Special order and limited items.