This ceramic ‘gangu’ figure was made at Gangu Kobo in Seto.

To commemorate 2025, the year of the snake, the scene here is defence of a daikon radish. The snake atop the iconic Japanese vegetable is on vigil toward the mouse below. It is hand painted, and presented on a wooded base with the Gangu Kobo logo.  

It is 8.1cm high, and 12.3cm wide.

About Gangu Kobo / Seto Togeisha

The making of ceramic figures is one of the many aspects within ceramic craft in Seto.  Once a major business for export, the Seto Togeisha focussed instead on the domestic market, making in particular work for use at Kyoto shrines.  As times changed the family firm adjusted its focus and today, led by the grand-daughter of its founder, works are hand painted and full of colourful expression.   Daruma, rabbits, new year’s mochi, snakes, dragons and more appear within a miniature world located inside Japan’s ‘gangu’ tradition of folk inspired figurines.   The are made in the firm’s Gangu Kobo (‘“gangu” workshop’) with concepts developed by the ceramicist Yusuke Mizuno, and realised by the firm’s craftspeople.  Their brushwork imbues gentle expressions to the pieces, and make new representations of tradition, regions and belief.