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Aoi me no ningyou was written in the late 1920's by Ujō Noguchi (1883-1945) and composed by Nagayo Motoori (1885-1945). The song referred to the Friendship Dolls which were a part of goodwill programm between Japan and the United States back in the 1920's as a way to ease cultural tensions. The American Missionary Sidney Gulick (1860-1945) formed the group "Committee On World Friendship Among Children" and in 1927 the first project was to organize the sending of 12,739 friendship dolls, also known as American blue-eyed dolls to Japan. The dolls arrived in time for Hina Matsuri, the annual traditional doll festival in March.
Viscount Eiichi Shibusawa (1840-1931) led a collection in Japan to reciprocate for this gift. The best doll makers in Japan were told to produce 58 Japanese dolls which were dressed in beautiful kimono made of silk and unique accessoires. These dolls represented specific Japanese prefecutres, regions and cities. They were sent to museums and libraries throughout the USA. Today you can find most American dolls in specific Japanese elementary schools of every prefecture.
