Jōmon Venus

The Jōmon Venus is a 27-centimeter-tall clay figurine at the Togariishi Museum of Jōmon Archaeology in Chino, weighing 2.14 kilograms and made from ochre-colored clay. It displays prominent anatomical features including broad hips, pronounced breasts, and an enlarged belly that define its form.

Excavations in 1986 at the Tanabatake site unearthed this figure from the Middle Jōmon period, discovered among settlement pits. The location contained remains of approximately 149 ancient houses, providing insights into how people lived during that era.

This complete clay figure shows early Japanese ceramic traditions and depicts a female form that people of that time frequently modeled. The broad hips and rounded belly reflect meanings that ancient people associated with this shape.

The museum preserves this figure in controlled climate conditions and displays it within protective cases to ensure its material survives. Visitors can view the original, but distance from the case is necessary to protect the artwork.

The clay material of this figure contains mica particles that give it a particular texture and distinguish it from other known figurines. These specific material characteristics suggest deliberate choices the maker made.