During my visit to the National Museum of Tokyo, I came across a "dogu" figurine that even for native Japanese remains an unsolved enigma with a history lacking a clear beginning or end. What we do know is that dogu figurines have been found in Japan, predominantly eastward from the central regions.

 

A few weeks later, I stumbled upon an article about the indigenous peoples of Alaska, and it dawned on me that the eyes of the dogu might serve as confirmation and evidence of a thread connecting both of these distinct cultures. This suggests a cultural continuity that extends across vast distances and raises intriguing questions about the historical interplay between these two geographically separated yet potentially interlinked societies.

This discovery not only underscores the fascinating nature of the dogu figurines but also highlights the intricate web of human history and cultural exchange that transcends geographical boundaries, a subject that continues to captivate scholars and researchers alike.

 

In light of these observations, I realised that the Japanese version of "goggles" has not survived to this day. As a designer, I am inspired to take on the task of recreating them using modern technologies in a manner that ensures cultural coherence. This endeavor would allow me to breathe new life into this lost facet of Japanese culture, bridging the past and present.