Traditional Japanese Crafts: The Complete Guide to Japanese Dolls

Kokeshi Dolls

The History of Kokeshi Dolls (*1)

Kokeshi are traditional Japanese wooden dolls. They usually have round heads and cylindrical bodies painted in a variety of patterns, which differ depending on the region.

The origin of the word “kokeshi” is not certain, and it’s not made easier by different regions calling the dolls by different names over the years. Some called them “kogesu,” which comes from “keshi-ningyo” (literally “poppy dolls”), which referred to small wooden dolls wearing cloth costumes. Others called them “kideko,” which comes from “deku,” another form of wooden doll. They were also known by the name “kiboko,” which references “hoko” dolls of crawling babies. (In each case, the “ki” prefix means wooden.) However, in 1940, lovers of these dolls got together and decided that they shall all be known as “kokeshi dolls,” and that name stuck.

There are also a lot of theories about the origin of the dolls themselves, but it’s widely accepted that they first appeared in the Edo Period (1603 – 1868), and can be traced back to around the 1850s when kijishi (woodworkers) started moving to hot spring towns that people visited to convalesce and relax. Kijishi specialized in lathe work, making wooden bowls and plates, and the theory goes that when they were left with some unused wood, they would fashion it into simple toys, and those became the first kokeshi dolls. The dolls caught the eye of farmers visiting the hot spring spas and quickly became popular souvenirs. With time, the dolls’ popularity grew and grew until they eventually became beloved children’s toys and good luck charms.

But then came the Taisho Period (1912 – 1926) and with it an influx of foreign toys that displaced the kokeshi. And yet, as the demand for the Japan-made dolls fell, a small group of enthusiasts appreciated them aesthetically.

In 1928, one Tomiya Amae published the Kokeshi Hoko no Hanashi, the first magazine dedicated entirely to kokeshi dolls. This helped Japan rediscover the traditional beauty and value of the dolls, and revitalized their popularity.
After Japan entered its postwar economic boom (1954 – 1970), more Japanese people started traveling around the country, including to the hot spring towns in the Tohoku region where kokeshi were still available as souvenirs. Once again, the dolls returned to the spotlight.

In 1981, the so-called “Miyagi traditional kokeshi,” which includes the five styles of Naruko, Hijiori, Sakunami, Togatta, and Yajiro, were designated as traditional Japanese crafts by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Characteristics of Kokeshi Dolls

●How Are Kokeshi Dolls Made (*2)

Every kokeshi doll is different depending on the region, from how they look to how they are made. There is the tsukuritsuke style, where the head and the torso are shaped out of one piece of wood. Then there’s the sashikomi style, where the head and torso are shaped separately and then connected with a peg. Finally, there is the hamekomi style, where the head and torso are made separately but one of them has a hole which the other, protruding part is hammered into. The hamekome-style dolls have rotatable heads and make noises.

Most kokeshi dolls are made from wood, mainly from painted maple or dogwood. Painted maple is especially prized for its lustrous, pale orange flesh color, as well as for its hardness and durability. Dogwood, on the other hand, has more of a white color and a much finer grain. It’s also softer and therefore less durable than Japanese maple, but that makes it easier to shape.

All kokeshi doll-making starts with the “kitori” (wood conversion), where a dried tree is cut to pieces roughly the size of the final product. Then, the piece of wood is placed inside a lathe, and the woodworker uses a planer to shape it into a kokeshi doll. If the craftsman is working in the sashikomi or hamekomi styles, they will shape the head and torso separately, but in the tsukuritsuke style, the entire doll is shaped out of one piece of wood.

Finally, the shaped doll is smoothed out with sandpaper. In the past, plants like horsetail or loofah were used to smooth it out.

Once the doll is fully shaped, the craftsman will paint designs and patterns on its head and torso using a brush. “Rokuro-sen” stripes are a kokeshi doll characteristic, and they are made while spinning the lathe (the “rokuro”) around.

●Types of Kokeshi Dolls

 

There are two main types of kokeshi dolls: traditional “dento kokeshi” that were developed in the Tohoku region centuries ago, and the “sosaku kokeshi” featuring more modern designs. Traditional kokeshi dolls are further divided into 11 unique types, each one with a different shape and design depending on the region.

・Kijiyama (Akita Prefecture) (*3)

It’s generally accepted that migrating kijishi woodworkers in search of better materials first started making kokeshi dolls as children’s toys and hot spring resort souvenirs near the end of the Edo Period (1850s). These crafts were made in the tsukuritsuke style where the head and the body are all made from one block of wood. They had a red ribbon-like ornament painted on their heads, while their torsos were adorned with painted kimonos featuring chrysanthemum flowers or vertical stripes. The dolls are easily identified by being quite slender with thicker torsos and smaller heads.

・Naruko (Miyagi Prefecture)

This style developed around Naruko Onsen in Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture, which is also the place of origin of two other major kokeshi doll styles: Tsuchiyu and Togatta. These dolls are made in the hamekomi style where the head produces a distinct sound when turned. Many crafts in this style have torsos adorned in chrysanthemum patterns. The Naruko style is easily recognizable by the torso being a little narrower in the middle.

・Sakunami (Miyagi Prefecture)

This style developed around Sakunami in the Aoba Ward of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Sakunami dolls are made in the sashikomi style, and are recognizable by their torsos being narrower near the bottom and their flat head tops. The reason why these dolls have such narrow torsos is to make it easier for children to hold them. A lot of Sakunami-style crafts are decorated in chrysanthemum flower patterns (left on the above picture) that somewhat resemble crabs, hence why the design is called kanigiku (crab chrysanthemum).

・Yajiro (Miyagi Prefecture)

This style developed around Kamasaki Onsen in Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture. Made in the sashikomi style, the heads of these dolls are relatively large and decorated with colorful lines resembling painted-on berets.

・Togatta (Miyagi Prefecture)

Made in the sashikomi style, Togatta dolls have long, vertical bodies and are recognizable by their large, crescent moon-shaped eyes. The tops of their heads are decorated with pictures of radiant, red flowers, while their bodies are usually adorned with chrysanthemum or plum flower designs.

・Zao (Yamagata Prefecture)

This style developed around Zao Onsen in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture. Made in the sashikomi style, Zao dolls have thick bodies and heads decorated with pictures of radiant, red-hair ornaments. Their bodies are adorned with chrysanthemum or sakura cherry flower designs.

・Hijiori (Yamagata Prefecture)

This style developed around Hijiori Onsen in the village of Okura, Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture. It’s derived from the Naruko and Togatta dolls and is made in the sashikomi style. The larger Hijiori kokeshi dolls make a distinct sound once adzuki beans are placed inside their heads. The style is easily recognizable by the dolls’ well-defined lips and crescent moon-shaped eyes.

・Yamagata (Yamagata Prefecture)

This style developed around the city of Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture. Made in the sashikomi style, Yamagata style dolls have slender, straight bodies decorated in sakura cherry or plum flower patterns.

・Nambu (Iwate Prefecture)

Made in the hamekomi style, it’s said that these dolls were modeled after a child’s pacifier. Because of that, the dolls feature no color or designs, and their heads wobble.

・Tsuchiyu (Fukushima Prefecture)

Made in the hamekomi style, these dolls have snake-eye designs painted on the tops of their heads. Their bodies are painted while spinning the dolls on a lathe. To achieve a different effect, some Tsuchiyu dolls are also painted using a “reverse lathe” technique where the lathe is spun in the opposite direction.

・Tsugaru (Aomori Prefecture) 

Made in the tsukuritsuke style, Tsugaru dolls have the shortest history out of all the 11 types of kokeshi dolls. They are recognizable by their various shapes and designs.

Kokeshi Dolls Today (*4)

In recent years we’ve seen the creation of sosaku kokeshi dolls which are not limited by tradition, allowing for a wider range of expressions and sometimes actually being made in the likeness of popular manga and anime characters. In 2010, Japan even came up with the term “Kokeshi Joshi” (Kokeshi Girls) to describe young women with a passion for these dolls. You can also buy things like the very useful “Akari Kokeshi” (Light Kokeshi) which light up when they topple, like during an earthquake or other natural disasters.

For the ultimate kokeshi doll experience, visit the annual All Japan Kokeshi Festival which has been held in Naruko since 1948. It’s always a lively event with people exhibiting and selling the kokeshi dolls, doll-painting experiences, parades, and more!

Summary

The various types of kokeshi dolls have waned and gained in popularity, but for more than 200 years now, they’ve remained a beloved part of Japanese culture. Now, they’re even becoming popular abroad where they’ve captured the hearts of many as souvenirs or interior design objects.

(*1) – (*4) Supervised by:
Fumio Miharu, chairman of the Akita Prefecture Kokeshi Craftsmen Association
Takahiko Numakura, vice-chairman of the Akita Prefecture Kokeshi Craftsmen Association

 

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