Kokeshi Dolls: A Toy or a Japanese Tradition?

At first sight, kokeshi dolls may seem like simple toys or decorations for your living room, but in fact they are an essential art form in Japan. These dolls are generally characterized by their lack of legs and arms (some modern designs have simplified arms), along with their colored kimono with floral patterns and geometric shapes.

These Japanese dolls usually symbolize young girls and they rapidly became well-known for their representation of feminine beauty. These Japanese dolls are usually female, although male versions are currently becoming more common. These wonderfully manufactured dolls are viewed as tokens of good wishes and love.

The History Behind Kokeshi dolls

In the early nineteenth century within the northern villages of the Tohoku region, kokeshi dolls were manufactured as toys for children, and they were produced from remaining bits of discarded wood. These early Japanese dolls were created by craftsmen who made their living by making other forms of woodcraft, but at some point they began creating kokeshi dolls to be marketed as souvenirs. There were many local hot spring resorts in the area, so it was a good business to sell these dolls to the visitors; it is a Japanese tradition to take back home an omiyage (a gift that is brought back home when a person travels). Over the years, this art has been enhanced and a wide variety of technical and artistic variations appeared. Today, there are many schools of kokeshi designs guided by master craftsmen who pass their legacy to other family members, maintaining this tradition throughout the generations.

Kokeshi Doll Types

Regardless of their common characteristics, kokeshi dolls are separated into two standard types: traditional kokeshi and creative kokeshi

Traditional Kokeshi

Traditional kokeshi dolls were initially manufactured by Kijiya artisans in the Tohoku region. They were known as "dento" dolls and they had slim and long bodies without arms or legs, and wider rounded heads. Initially, these Japanese dolls took a very simple shape with long cylindrical bodies painted with a limited variety of colors.

Modern Kokeshi

Shingata or creative kokeshi, is a more contemporary doll style which gives flexibility to the artist to shape the doll as he chooses; they can possess any style or color. Also, the body and head can be very diverse in form. Creative kokeshi dolls don't adhere to the traditional styles originated in the Tohoku region; their creation is totally free regarding the artwork. A creative doll is generally a unique piece, and it might be more costly compared to other type of dolls due to its originality. The craftsmen who produce the creative kokeshi dolls are not from a particular region of Japan, and typically they are located in the cities.

These dolls have been an important part of the Japanese traditions and nowadays they are an icon of Japanese culture. The beauty behind these dolls lies in their ever changing design that reflects the current Japanese society. Simple and stylish, these dolls are not just toys or decorations; they are an expression of dedication and love to an art form that has been present for hundreds of years in Japan.

Kenichi loves Japanese dolls. Learn how to make a cute Japanese paper doll for free and fill your life with health and happiness. Get your free guide at his website: The Complete Japanese Dolls Guide. You can also learn about Japanese gifts, Momiji dolls and more of this Japanese art form.