AKI, Kochi -- Ayumi Nakamura, a ceramic artist in Aki, Kochi Prefecture, has created ornamental figures of Amabie, a legendary yokai (supernatural being) said to ward off plagues in the hope that they will bring peace of mind to those taking great care to avoid novel coronavirus infection.
The Uchiharano Togeikan ceramic museum where Nakamura is based, was closed from April to early May due to the viral outbreak. During this time, Nakamura got inspiration for the ornaments when she discovered that Japanese confectionery featuring the yokai had seen a huge increase in popularity. Each of her creations is 9 centimeters tall with a chubby body, yellow beak and small eyes. To give it the appearance of it just emerging from water, she made its scaly body and long hair a light blue color. Each statuette costs 3,800 yen including tax.
She is also considering holding open ceramic making lessons so that visitors can make their own Amabie. "Because making ceramics allows people to lose themselves and forget their worries, I think it would be wonderful if visitors who have been agonizing over this crisis could feel a bit more at ease with these lessons," Nakamura said.
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