Kokeshi

, are simple wooden Japanese dolls with no arms or legs that have been crafted for more than 150 years as a toy for children. Originally from the northeastern region ( Tōhoku-chihō) of Japan, they are handmade from wood, having a simple trunk and head with a few thin, painted lines to define the face. The body often has floral and/or ring designs painted in red, black, and sometimes green, purple, blue, or yellow inks, and covered with a layer of wax. One characteristic of kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms or legs. Since the 1950s, kokeshi makers have signed their work, usually on the bottom and sometimes on the back.

History and etymology

The origin and naming of ''kokeshi'' is unclear, with historical ateji spellings including 小芥子, 木牌子, 木形子, and 木芥子. The hiragana spelling こけし was agreed on at the All-Japan Kokeshi Exhibition (全国こけし大会) at Naruko Onsen in August 1939. A plausible theory is that "kokeshi" is derived from or , and .

A popular theory suggests that ''kokeshi'' may be fetish substitutes for unwanted babies killed after birth and the characters can be understood as 子消し (made up of and . While infanticide was commonly practiced in Japan until the 20th century, there is little if any evidence to support the theory that ''kokeshi'' have anything to do with the practice, with the earliest references in literature dating only from 1965.こけしに関するＱ＆Ａ


. Accessed 11 Aug 2021. The word ''kokeshi'' itself is originally of the Sendai dialect, with the dolls being known as, for example, ''deko'', ''kideko'', ''dekoroko''; in Fukushima as ''kibako'', ''kihohoko''; in Miyagi as ''obokko''; and in Naruko as ''hangyo'' and ''kiningyō'', none of which supports the theory.

Kokeshi were first produced by kijishi (木地師), artisans proficient with a lathe, at the Shinchi Shuraku, near the Tōgatta Onsen in Zaō from where kokeshi-making techniques spread to other spa areas in the Tōhoku region. It is said that these dolls were originally made during the middle of the Edo period (1600–1868) to be sold to people who were visiting the hot springs in the north-east of the country.

Types

dolls' shapes and patterns are particular to a certain area and are classified under eleven types, shown below. The most dominant type is the Naruko variety originally made in Miyagi Prefecture, which can also be found in Akita, Iwate, and Yamagata Prefectures. The main street of the Naruko Onsen Village is known as Kokeshi Street and has shops which are operated directly by the kokeshi carvers.

allow the artist complete freedom in terms of shape, design and color and were developed after World War II (1945). They are not particular to a specific region of Japan and generally creative kokeshi artists are found in cities.

The woods used for kokeshi vary, with cherry used for its darkness and dogwood for its softer qualities. Itaya-kaede, a Japanese maple, is also used in the creation of both traditional and creative dolls. The wood is left outdoors to season for one to five years before it can be used.

Traditional types

Traditional types often correspond to a single or multiple onsen located within the Tōhoku region.
*''Tsuchiyu'' (土湯系): Tsuchiyu Onsen (Fukushima), Iizaka Onsen (Fukushima), Dake Onsen (Nihonmatsu)
*''Yajirō'' (弥治郎系): Yajirō ( Shiroishi)
*''Tōgatta'' (遠刈田系): Tōgatta Onsen ( Zaō)
*''Naruko'' (鳴子系): Naruko Onsen ( Ōsaki)
*''Sakunami'' (作並系) or ''Yamagata-Sakunami'' (山形作並系): Sendai (incl. Sakunami Onsen), Yamagata, Yonezawa, Sagae, Tendō
*''Zaō Takayu'' (蔵王高湯系): Zaō Onsen (Yamagata)
*''Hijiori'' (肘折系): Hijiori Onsen ( Ōkura)
*''Kijiyama'' (木地山系): Kijiyama ( Yuzawa)
*''Nambu'' (南部系): Morioka, Hanamaki Onsen (Hanamaki)
*''Tsugaru'' (津軽系) or ''Nuruyu'' (温湯系): Nuruyu Onsen ( Kuroishi), Ōwani Onsen ( Ōwani)

In popular culture

''Kokeshi'' dolls have been used as an inspiration for the style of Nintendo's digital avatars, called " Miis", which are created and customized by players. Their appearance has become the symbol of the platform's overall aesthetic.

In the popular PlayStation series LittleBigPlanet, a Kokeshi doll is seen in the game and can be obtained and used as an item for level making.

Inspiration for the Momiji Doll originates from the Kokeshi Doll.

Japanese professional wrestler Tomoaki Honma is nicknamed after his finishing move "Kokeshi", a diving headbutt where Honma seems to fall lifelessly on his opponent.

In the game ''Mother 2'', there is an object called "Kokeshi doll statue", blocking the underground path below the Stonehenge. The protagonist needs to erase this statue with so-called .

Miss Grand Japan 2020, Ruri Saji, wore a Kokeshi doll-inspired costume which also transforms into an anime robot, showcasing Japan’s technological advancement in the robotics field. It has won the ''Best in National Costume'' title at the Miss Grand International 2020 held in Bangkok, Thailand.

See also

* Japanese traditional dolls
** Daruma doll
* Nesting doll
* Roly-poly toy

References

External links

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"32nd Michinoku Kokeshi Festival" at Destination Tohoku

"''Kokeshi''" at Japanya.co.uk

The history and meaning of the Kokeshi dolls

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Japanese folk art
Japanese dolls
Japanese words and phrases
Wooden toys