Posted on May 25, 206
The Detroit Children’s Museum is scheduled to reopen on June 18, 2026, marking a significant milestone. Historically, the museum has housed the Friendship Doll Akita Fukiko, a symbol of international friendship sent from Japan in 1927 as part of the Friendship Doll Exchange Program.
The upcoming year will celebrate the centennial of this exchange, with various commemorative events planned across the U.S. It is hoped that Akita Fukiko will continue to be a central figure in these celebrations.
Last year, Akita Fukiko underwent meticulous restoration by Mr. Masaru Aoki from Tokyo, ensuring its preservation. The doll was prominently featured at the Hinamatsuri event at the Detroit Institute of Arts on March 1, 2026.
To honor the museum’s reopening, the Japan Business Society of Detroit (JBSD) and artist Nobuko Yamazaki will donate a new Ichimatsu doll named Ichiko, affectionately called Ichigo-chan. Crafted by Kokan Fujimura, a master artisan linked to the lineage of Koryusai Takizawa—the original creator of Akita Fukiko—Ichiko symbolizes a meaningful cultural connection.
While Akita Fukiko will be temporarily outside the museum during the centennial celebrations, Ichiko will serve as a guardian figure within the museum. The public is warmly invited to visit the Detroit Children’s Museum to experience these culturally significant dolls firsthand and participate in the upcoming festivities.
(Source: Japan Cultural Development, Newsletter No.9, May 2026)