Help with Japanese figurines/ crafts

Hi I bought these in bulk auction lot and I am hoping to get some information on these Japanese figurines and the markings.The pair, man and women are carved wood and painted and came with marked box.The other one seems to be paper made women on wooden stage and is very small and signed base.The photos with the measuring tape are in cm's which goes to show how small they are.

Thanks
George

 

You should post them as FULL IMAGES.

 

I am not sure how too.I thought they were

 

LOL I think just worked it out

 

The "couple" look home made, do they look that way to you?

I don't understand the "paper mache" part. I see like a stage? a Japanese woman in a kimono and a stringed instrument (the name of which escapes me - there is one upstairs in my store room that my son inherited from his step-mother.)

 

I think the woman made out of paper

 

Her kimono is made out of paper? The only part of her body I can see in your pictures is her head - which is covered in what looks like real human hair. What is your impression of the rest of that little scene?

 

Looking at it with a magnifying glass it seems as though the whole woman is made of paper.As for the scene it appears to be a woman ready to play a stringed instrument.But what fascinates me is how can someone have the patience and such steady hands to create something so small.

 

Is the instrument a koto?

 

Yes that's what it is.

 

The two in the first post seem very crudely carved and painted. They are either homemade, or maybe cheap tourist souvenirs? If anybody could read the writing, that may help a lot.

I'm fascinated with the other one and would love to know the story behind it. For example, why is she bowing toward the wall, and away from the onlookers (us)? We don't know the answer to this, but I would be interested in knowing.

Anyway, she is also crudely made and I wonder whether she is also a small souvenir of something? Or party favor? Only a little over 2 inches tall. You're right, that is a lot of detail for such a small size!

 

Good question, Fig. I wonder whether she is permanently attached in that position or not (and can be moved?) Another thing I just realized is that the circle on the silver wall she is facing looks like it had something else attached there. No other little round piece, gks?

 

The crudeness of the first pair is really puzzling. I have a collection of Japanese souvenirs & they are all much better made than this.

Maybe the head is movable, but right now she is looking out at us to her left side. I imagined her ready to play the koto to the moon.

 

Maybe it was a small shrine

 

Probably miniature versions for the Japanese Hina Matsuri (Doll's Day/Girl's Day) festival.

https://www.ebay.com/i/202665301478?
chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=202665301478&targetid=882904020427&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=200617&poi=&campaignid=6469981122&mkgroupid=86285324342&rlsatarget=pla-882904020427&abcId=1141176&merchantid=114152779&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIncjr09Tg6AIVyrzACh1oAgKhEAQYASABEgLzV_D_BwE#

A full set would include the Emperor and Empress and their attendants, including musicians.

"All about Japanese Hina Dolls":
https://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/dictio/senshoku/hina.html