An artist based in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido is in demand for her remarkably lifelike clay figurines of famous historical figures. Mika Takayama, 47, who lives in Sapporo, calls the 15-centimeter-tall figurines made of oven-bake clay chima chima ningyō (tiny little dolls).
Takayama principally works as a book illustrator and says making the models is "just one of my hobbies." Nevertheless, she spares no effort in making them as realistic as possible. Before creating a doll of Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927), one of her favorite writers whose works include "Rashomon," she read nearly 50 books about him.
Takayama originally made musical instruments and daily items until one of her friends suggested that she create a doll of a human figure instead. Her initial Akutagawa doll, however, "didn't look like him" and she realized that she needed to know more about her subjects if she wanted to make them look real.