Currently in Japan it has been confirmed there are 216 "Blue-eyed Dolls" in good health. And one among these is Aurie (nicknamed Anne) who remains at our school.

Each year on the day of Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) Aurie is displayed together on the doll stand with Suujin School's hina dolls.

However, soon the "Blue-eyed Dolls" were met by unhappy times. It was the war between Japan and America. Many "Blue-eyed Dolls" were destroyed since they were dolls of the enemy. In such a time, our school's Aurie was protected by one female teacher who thought, "this small doll has done no wrong."

At the end of the war, the day came once again when Aurie returned to our school's doll stand.

In 1975, she greeted the Torei Doll Miss Kyoto who returned home to Japan from Boston for repairs, and they met each other at the Kyoto City Hall. Aurie herself has also gone around to various places for exhibitions, and she even once returned home to America.

Also this year, Aurie again will probably have many things to tell us children at Suujin School on the day of Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival).

Sources:
Blue-eyed Dolls, Yamaguchi Shoten.
Blue-eyed Doll Exhibition, Kokusai Bunka Kyokai, Asahi Newspaper Company, Sogo Art Museum
Yomiuri Kyoto File, February Edition, Yomiuri Newspaper, Osaka Main Office, Sales Department

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