Aomori City Komakino Archaeological Site Preservation Center "Komakino Kan" (Nozawa, Aomori City) started a lottery sale of "Shakoki Dogu Knit Hat" on December 1st.

The Shakoki Dogu Knit Hat is an original product of the museum that expresses the "Kepatsu" of the head with a special weaving method, based on the image of the "Shakoki Dogu", a relic excavated in the late Jomon period. Since the sale started in January 2020, it has been sold every winter. This year, we will prepare 11 types, including the new colors “purple”, “green” and “cherry pink”, for a total of 65 items.

Komaki Goto, the vice-director of the museum who was working hard on the goods development meeting to get more people to know about the Komakino Ruins, said, "I love shader clay figurines and was thinking about 'things that people can enjoy wearing.' During the winter period. I also wanted to get people to visit the museum, so it all started with the idea of a knitted hat."

There were many opinions that it was difficult to shape the hair and that it was impossible. “I was surprised that it could be woven like this,” he says. After four rounds of tweaking and fine-tuning, we were able to reach a satisfactory final form.

Goto said, "I was surprised when I posted a photo of five of the same products lined up in the museum shop and posted them on social media." Over 1,500 inquiries and requests for interviews came flooding in, and looking back on those days, he said, "I couldn't do my normal work." Tomiyuki Takenaka, director of the museum, smiles and says, "Because the knitted hat became famous, it made people feel closer to the Jomon period, and it also contributed to making the Komakino ruins known."

About this year's sale On December 1, when I posted an image of the same product on Twitter, it received 24,000 "likes" and 10,000 retweets. "The popularity hasn't declined this year," said Mr. Goto. Until now, the application method and price have been trial and error, but in order to meet the needs of various generations, from children to the elderly, applications will be accepted only by postcard. More than 110 postcards have been received on the second day of application, and 90% of them are from outside the prefecture.

This year's lineup includes "terracotta," "dark brown," "mustard," "blue," "green," and "purple." "Cherry Pink", "Mustard", and "Blue" (for children = 6,930 yen. Same = about 15 cm, same = about 18 cm), "Terracotta parent-child set", "Dark brown parent-child set" (more, 16,830 yen) ). It is said that mass production is not possible because it is hand-knitted by one craftsman.

Mr. Goto said, "This product was born from the combination of our love for the Jomon period and the desire to help spread the ruins of the local craftsmen. We hope that all residents of the prefecture will also apply. If you win, you will be able to apply for this hat." I want you to come to the Komakino ruins wearing a kimono."

The application deadline for the lottery sale is December 12th.