Learn about Kokeshi dolls

Kokeshi is a Japanese made wooden doll. They are known as one of the oldest and most important traditional folk art works in the country of cherry blossoms.

From Edo period (1600-1868), Kokeshi dolls are famous products of Tohoku region, northeastern Japan, where there are many hot springs and resorts. The first dolls were carved and sold by artisans to tourists. Kokeshi is a picture of little girls with a relatively large round head and a cylindrical body. Facial features are depicted with simple lines. The body of the doll is covered with a thin layer of wax. The pattern on the body is as simple as the grass and flowers with basic colors such as black, red, yellow and purple. The unique point of these dolls is that they do not have limbs.

It is estimated that there are 11 types of traditional Kokeshi corresponding to villages, villages . They are produced in the six provinces of Tohoku and most commonly Naruko. Crafting Kokeshi dolls is the main handicraft in Naruko Onsen village, so the village's main road is called Kokeshi.

Because of the sharpening and drawing by the artists, none of them are the same and all are the only ones. So Kokeshi becomes one of the most attractive traditional toys that still exists today. Some dolls have a happy, smiling, and happy face, while others have a thoughtful, thoughtful, and even serious face.

Traditional Kokeshi dolls carry many meanings of unique local spiritual culture, symbolizing wellbeing. They believe that children who play with these dolls will be protected and healthy. They also trust the Kokeshi dolls that promise to bring a good harvest. Some bought a doll so they could protect the house from fire .

In addition to traditional dolls, Kokeshi dolls were created with the breath of contemporary art after World War II. These modern Kokeshi have a variety of designs with more free, liberal colors. They formed by applying other unique techniques such as carving and firing, methods not used to create traditional Kokeshi. They still have a big head but have more hair, legs and arms with a gesture with umbrellas, fans, flowers, balls in their hands, even a mother doll carrying their children on their backs .

Kokeshi is made mainly from muzuki tree wood (water plants) due to softer tree fibers. However, the most favored wood is cherry tree wood because of its traditional dark color. In addition, the wood of Japanese maple tree is also used to make both traditional and modern Kokeshi dolls. This wood is kept outdoors for 1 to 5 years before being put into operation.

Long, Kokeshi has also become a precious delicate gift for special people. On the body of some dolls were given the name of the person who was given along with some Haiku verses (the ancient poem of Phu Tang country) in the style of traditional Japanese calligraphy. Kokeshi sizes are varied, tiny like fingers and sometimes as big as a newborn baby. Kokeshi dolls are really a great art masterpiece by just a few simple lines, the artist blew his soul and his mood to turn wooden dolls seemingly senseless into full works lively.