During the 1920's, in the face of growing xenophobia and anti-immigration laws in the United States, a former missionary to Japan started a program of sending Friendship Dolls to Japan to increase cultural contact. The Japanese reciprocated by creating several dolls and sending them to the US.
During World War II, many of the dolls were destroyed in the hysteria and passion occurring on both sides, but several dolls survived and are still being used as a symbol of US-Japan friendship and as a cultural lesson.
This category is for sites that show the history of the doll exchanges, and how they are still being used today.
Sites in Japanese should be submitted to the appropriate World/Japanese subcategory.
Sites 3
Loading new listings for you to review...
- Friendship Dolls Data on Japanese Friendship Dolls and American Blue-eyed dolls exchanged in friendship. From Wesleyan University.
- Nagasaki Tamako Describes the ambassador doll sent Japan to the USA in 1927 with the mission of peace and goodwill, and current exhibit at the Rochester Museum and Science Center.
- Urayasu Friendship Doll Exchange Association Gives history of friendship dolls and the turbulent change of feelings between Japan and the US during World War II.