What are Kokeshi Dolls?
They are Japanese wooden dolls that are traditionally crafted by hand, or mass-produced in factories. Like other dolls, kokeshi have faces, but they are characterized by their lack of arms and legs.
Is there a meaning behind their creation?
Some say they were given as gifts to parents of children who had passed away, and that they hold the souls of those children. Others say they are symbols of hope for bountiful harvests, but the original kokeshi were simply just sold as souvenirs.
A Brief History of Kokeshi
Although the creator of the first kokeshi is unknown, the history of kokeshi dates back to the 1800s when kijishi (woof craftsmen) sold them around Sakunami, which is a hot spring resort district in northern Japan. The kijishi took the left-over wooden blocks from plates, bowls, and other wood-crafted items and used a lathe (a machine that rotates) to sand them down into cylinders and to apply the lines of ink.
What are the different types of Kokeshi Dolls?
Below are some photos of kokeshi that I've sold in my Etsy shop. I managed to find all types but Nakanosawa kokeshi!
Traditional Kokeshi
For traditional kokeshi, there are 11 official styles which are named after the place they originated from, and each have a set of rules on the shape, colour and motifs. The 11 main types of kokeshi are Hijiori, Kijiyama, Nakanosawa, Nanbu, Naruko, Sakunami, Togatta, Tsuchiyu, Tsugaru, Yajiro, and Yamagata
Modern Kokeshi
The non-traditional kokeshi are referred to as 'modern' or 'creative' kokeshi, and although they retain some of the elements of traditional kokeshi, the craftsmen of these kokeshi do not need to follow any strict rules and therefore have more freedom to be creative.
The Making of a Kokeshi Doll
The body is first sanded and shaped with tools on the lathe.
Then lines are formed using ink and the rotation of the lathe. To seal the ink a layer of wax is also applied.
The shape of the head is made using a chisel and then sandpaper to create a smooth and round surface.
The face of the kokeshi is always painted by hand, as well as any motifs on the body other than lines.
These process photos were from my studio tour of Seiji Yoshino's studio. Click here to see the blog I wrote with more photos of his process!
Blog Posts About Kokeshi Dolls
