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Finally got a good shot of my two Beach Blast Miko dolls!
I got them both new, probably in 1989, at the same time. I deemed one of them “more beautiful” than the other one so I played with her less so I wouldn’t trash her. It worked because I unearthed my old barbies a few years ago and one Miko was absolutely trashed. I had to cut debris out of some of her hair. Parts of one of her eyebrows was missing! She even has a spot of leg rot so she had to be quarantined. So she got a great makeover!
I’m not sure exactly why I deemed one more beautiful. Side by side I can see that “beautiful” Miko has slightly better eye screening alignment, and more purple eyeshadow color underneath her eyes. Was I scrutinizing dolls that hard at five years old, or did I just have a sense that one was “better”??
“Beautiful” Miko is unrestored, her hair just got a quick comb before the photo.
On my final morning in Tokyo I brought my wife to see the Meiji Shrine, located in Shibuya, Tokyo, it is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken.
I had been here before I found it quite fascinating and full of activity.
The girl pictured here is a Miko. This is a Shinto term indicating a shrine maiden. They used to be a shaman or Shinto priestess, but in modern times they are often university students with a part-time job working at the shrine.