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What Is a Japanese Kokeshi Doll?

Japanese Kokeshi dolls are traditional wooden dolls that originated in Japan's Tohoku region sometime during the 16th to 18th centuries. They were made by woodwork artisans known as Kijiya to sell to tourists who visited the Tohoku hot springs. They are still being handcrafted today and still predominantly in the Tohoku region.

Background
- There are numerous Kokeshi doll styles, but they all share a common philosophy: the pursuit of beauty and artistry through simplicity. The woods used for Kokeshi include cherry, dogwood and Japanese maple. Before being made into a doll, the wood is left outdoors to season for one to five years. Because they are handcrafted and hand-painted, no two dolls are the same.
Traditional Kokeshi Dolls
- All traditional dolls have a basic cylindrical, limbless body and a round head. It is thought that the first dolls were unpainted, but today's dolls are painted in bright floral designs, kimonos and other traditional patterns. The colors used are mainly red, yellow and purple. As for the faces, they range from happy and smiling to serious.
Types of Traditional Dolls
- There are 11 types of traditional Kokeshi dolls: Tsuchiyu, Togatta, Yajiro, Naruko, Sakunami, Yamagata, Kijiyama, Nanbu, Tsugaru, Zao-takayu and Hijioro. Each style has its own distinct design. For example, The Naruko style has the doll head joined to the body with a close-fitting gooseneck that makes a crying sound when the head is turned. Yajiro dolls have heads that are painted with multicoloured lines in a beret-cap pattern, and Nanbu design has a pacifier-shaped movable head.
Creative Kokeshi Dolls
- Unlike traditional Kokeshi dolls, creative Kokeshi dolls are not restrained in terms of shape, design and color. The artist is free to shape and paint the doll however he pleases. The dolls do not display colors that reflect which sector of Thoku they come from, nor does the artist have to use traditional techniques. The only requirement for making creative Kokeshi dolls is the use of a lathe--the same tool used for traditional dolls. Other than that, the artist is free to express herself through her dolls.
Significance
- Every year in early September, wood craftsmen throughout Japan gather in Naruko Onsen, where the Kokeshi is honoured through competition. The artist who creates the best Kokeshi doll receives a prestigious award from Japan's prime minister.

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