What is a Kokeshi Doll

What is a Kokeshi Doll?

Kokeshi is a traditional Japanese doll made out of wood usually Japanese maple, Cherry wood and Dogwood. Originally from northern Japan, it has a simple body that doesn’t have arms and legs, and a large round head. The head is then painted with thin colors just enough to define the doll’s face. The doll’s body features a colorful combination of floral designs painted in yellow, black with a dominating red color and sprayed with a thin layer of wax to give it a glossy finish touch.

Brief History:

The invention of these kinds of dolls was dated back in the mid 18^th and early 19^th century. Early people say that these dolls were created in order to contain the lost spirits of their ancestors and give tribute to relatives that they have lost. Others also say that since these dolls are made from wood which they can find it almost anywhere near their location especially to those who are less fortunate that served as a practical way to give their children a less expensive toy since they cannot afford an elegant porcelain doll. Wooden dolls are safer than dolls made out of porcelain especially for young children since this can also be formed as pacifiers.

The traditional Kokeshi doll’s shapes and patterns depend on where it is made and are classified to under eleven different types namely; Hijioro, Tsuchiyo, Togatta, Zao-takayu, Yajiro, Tsugaru, Yamagata, Sakunami, Kijiyama, Nanbu, and Naruko. The most popular type is made by the Miyagi Prefecture, the Naruko variety which can be found in Yamagata, Iwate, and Akita Prefectures. The main street of Naruko near the hot spring resort is actually called Kokeshi Street where evident kokeshi shops are present almost anywhere that are directly managed by kokeshi carvers.

Way back the early days, Kokeshi dolls were not that very fascinately designed. Unlike today, they were extensively painted and decorated; faces were painted with different moods that come with a wide variety of sizes and designs. The dolls are much chubbier and have many curves now a days compared to the early cylindrical ones. Traditionally, these dolls were made in several schools that interpret their trademark in each doll so that the collectors can easily identify the origin of a certain doll.

The making of Kokeshi dolls is considered as a folk art, a tradition that is passed from one generation to another. Several artisans make their own design of the dolls, where the body has an odd shape compared to a traditional Kokeshi doll, they call creative Kokeshi dolls. These are the modern interpretation of the doll, and they are considered as nontraditional doll-making. These dolls are more expensive than the traditional one because of their unique design and usually it is signed by the sculptor. So buying this kind of art is just like collecting a masterpiece.

In this modern age, new born size Kokeshi doll is given to new mothers as a token. Such Kokeshi dolls are also given as a birthday present for children, though grown-ups also collect them too.