Playing All Day Long

This publication offers an overview of the Náprstek Museum's Japanese traditional toys collection. The first part of the book concentrates on introducing the phenomenon of traditional Japanese toys to the European public. Toys are presented as an integral part of the overall culture of Japan, including their reflections in the arts, crafts, philosophy and religion of the nation. A special attention is given to the philosophical reflection of the international role of toys in the work of H. Bergson. Subsequently a catalogue of various toy types in presented concentrating on describing items form the NpM collection as well as providing a wider background of Japanese toy production manly in the 19th and early 20th century.