Vintage Nasu (Aubergine) Doll

This charming, vintage aubergine-shaped wooden doll features two miniature figures – a boy dressed in a blue kimono and a girl in a red kimono – nestled inside a small hollow of the aubergine.

Measuring approximately 7 cm in height, this unique item carries cultural significance tied to the Japanese tradition of eggplants as symbols of achievement and prosperity, due to their reliable ability to bear fruit.

There is an old sticker on the side that reads “しなの路 (Shinanomichi),” suggesting that it was likely purchased in the Shinanomichi area of Wakayama prefecture during the Showa era.

These rare, vintage items come from the personal collection of j-okini’s owner’s grandfather (1919–1998) and have been carefully preserved since the 1990s.

Each piece holds a special connection to Japan’s cultural history and has been well cared for over the decades.