Traditional Kokeshi Japanese Dolls

Traditional Kokeshi are for the main part still only produced in the six prefectures of the Tohoku region. The twelve schools of design here all exhibit distinctive features that allow experts to tell exactly where they have been produced and often by whom. Fetaures of the prominent design schools are deatiled below.

The most ancient birthplace of Kokeshi is in Togatta, Miyagi Prefecture. Togatta has produced many master class wood artisans, and has played a key role in transferring the Kokeshi making techniques to other spa areas in the Tohoku region. Shinchi in Togatta, Togatta Hot Spring and Aone Hot Spring are the principal producing areas. At present, this is the second most prosperous Kokeshi producing area following Naruko. It has an older history than Naruko and the Kiji-shi, or woodcraft artisans, in Shinchi, Togatta were the first to make Kokeshi.

At Naruko Hot Springs, plain woodwork and lacquer ware have a long history. Simple and tasteful, Naruko Kokeshi had its head joined to its body with a close fitting gooseneck that emits a “cry” (hence called the crying doll) when the head is turned sound. "Naruko" Kokeshi are very popular and are made by many wood artisans. Naruko Kokeshi were developed in Naruko, one of the best hot spring resorts in the Tohoku region. Recently found ancient records indicate that "Koukeshi" existed in 1862, and it is thought that Kokeshi started to be produced in the late Edo period. Simple and tasteful in the Ko-Naruko (Ancient Naruko Kokeshi) Period (Meiji era - early Taisho era) and featuring yellow in the body in the Ki-Naruko (Yellow Naruko Kokeshi) Period (Middle Taisho era - prewar). Current Kokeshi have a gentle and fascinating expression.

Yajiro Kokeshi share their origins with Togatta Kokeshi. Today in Yajiro, many people live as half farmer and half artisan, farming the land from early spring to autumn and striving to produce Kokeshi from late autumn to spring when the icy chill moves off the river. Yajiro Kokeshi are produced mainly in the village of Yajiro located about 1 km west of the Kamasaki Hot Spring of Shiroishi-shi. The top of the head is painted with multicolored lines drawn in a beret cap pattern. Flowers or leaf patterns may sometimes be added.

Inspiration for Kokeshi Dolls comes from a number of sources. Sendai kokeshi are inspired by urban sources, while other Kokeshi dolls in the Tohoku region are inspired by mountain villages and hot spring resorts. Examples of these hot spring inspired kokeshi are Sakunami Hot Spring and Imozawa in Miyagi Prefecture and Yamagata-shi in Yamagata Prefecture.

The Hijiori design was developed in the Hijiori Hot Spring resort in Okura-mura, Yamagata Prefecture. From ancient times, this resort has thrived as a hot spring cure spa under the faithful influence of "Dewa Sanzan (three mountains in the Dewa area)". The Togatta design was combined with the Naruko design to produce the distinctive Hijiori Kokeshi. This design presently has the least number of the artisans.

The Nanbu kokeshi was developed from an unpainted, pacifier-shaped toy with a movable head. These dolls are characterised by their simple painting and their movable head.

The Tsugaru's head and body are of one piece. Some have a wasp waist while others have heavyset shoulders, reflecting the influence of the Naruko kokeshi.