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are one of the representative traditional crafts of the Tohoku regionKokeshi dolls.
It is a craft that has spread over a fairly wide area, with at least one unique style existing in every prefecture in the Tohoku region
that developed primarily around Nakanosawa Onsen in Fukushima Prefecture"Nakanosawa Kokeshi," a type of kokeshi dollwe've taken a closer look at
What is a Kokeshi doll?
primarily by woodworkers called "kijishi," who lived in mountain villages andbowls, trays, and other items using a potter'sKokeshi dolls are woodento make a living. They were made to be toys for their own children or to sell as souvenirs to visitors of nearby hot spring resorts.
Many Nakanosawa Kokeshi dolls
It is said to have originated around the end of the Edo period, and is generally divided into the following 12 types based on its place of origin and characteristics
Tsugaru style(around Hirosaki City and Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture)
Southern type(around Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture)
Kijiyama Mountain Range(around Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture)
Naruko style(around Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Sakunami style(around Sakunami Onsen, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Kokeshi dollsきでこ,kideko,dekoroko,kogesuand evenkogehouko,kiboko,odekosamahave many other names, such as
There are various theories about where the name "kokeshi" originally came from
The evolution of the plague-repelling toy, the Yokeshi
Changes in Koge (piece of wood) and Hohoko (doll)
The meaning of "burnt wood"
A dialectal name for Okeshi, a small doll that was popular during the Edo period
There are several theories, such as the above. Each theory has a certain degree of persuasiveness, and it is thought that the other names mentioned above are names based on their origins, which have been changed by mixing in local accents
Although kokeshi dolls were called by completely different names in various regions, in 1940 (Showa 15), the Tokyo Kokeshi Association held its"1st Local Gathering - Naruko Convention," where many people involved, including kokeshi craftsmen and enthusiasts, gathered and decided to standardize the name to the three hiragana characters "kokeshi." Since then, they have been called "kokeshi" in all regions.
Nakanosawa-style Kokeshi dolls developed in Nakanosawa Onsen
developed around Nakanosawa Onsen in Inawashiro Town, Yama District, Fukushima Prefecturethe Nakanosawa style kokeshi doll.
It is said that the origins of kokeshi dolls date back to 1922, when a driftwood craftsman from Tochigi Prefecture named Zenkichi Iwamoto moved to Nakanosawa Onsen and began making kokeshi dolls as souvenirs from the hot springs around the first year of the Showa era (1926-1927)
Nakanosawa style kokeshi dolls
The distinguishing features of Nakanozawa-style kokeshi dolls are their unique facial expressions, which set them apart from other styles, andtheir eyes,.
Yoshikichi Iwamoto, who originally disliked imitation and preferred original creations, created this distinctive piece, and it"Takobozu" (Octopus Monk)'s affectionately known as
The shape and structure of the kokeshi dolls are influenced by the "Togatta style" of Miyagi Prefecture and the "Tsuchiyu style" of Fukushima City, and peonies and cherry blossoms are commonly painted on the body
It was previously considered a part of the Tsuchiyu lineage, but in recent years has been recognized as an independent lineage
For many years, Nakanosawa-style kokeshi dolls have been classified as "part of the Tsuchiyu style," but due to their uniqueness, locals have expressed a desire to classify them as an independent lineage
Then, in 2018, permission was granted to change the name from "Tsuchiyu style" to "Nakanosawa style," and in 2024,the 66th All Japan Kokeshi Doll Contest,, "Nakanosawa style kokeshi" was recognized as an independent traditional kokeshi doll lineage.
Nakanosawa Onsen, the birthplace of Nakanosawa Kokeshi dolls
Nakanosawa Onsenis a mountain hot spring resort located in Inawashiro Town, Yama District, Fukushima Prefecture, surrounded by the mountains of Mount Adatara to the east, Mount Bandai to the west, and the Azuma mountain range to the north.
Nakanosawa Onsen
It is located at the junction of National Route 115, which connects Inawashiro Town and Fukushima City, and Prefectural Route 24, which branches off from it and leads to Koriyama City. Nearby is theMotonari Pass Battlefield,""
Nakanosawa Onsen itself was born in the Meiji era, when the hot spring water was drawn from its source near the crater of Mount Adatara (Numanotaira) about 7km in a straight line to Nakanosawa
The birthplace of Nakanosawa Kokeshi
In 1913, the Numajiri Light Railway was laid to transport sulfur produced at the nearby Numajiri Mine, and tourists began to travel by train to the hot springs. At the time, the area was lined with restaurants, geisha houses, and even movie theaters, making it a lively hot spring resort
The volcanic hot water is highly acidic and hot, and has long been popular as a medicinal bath. Currently, there are about eight hot spring inns here
Traveling around the Tohoku region, I enjoy drinking delicious sake and exploring the local history, traditions, and customs. I write articles based on my interests. I'm currently interested in folk performing arts, local toys, and folk beliefs
![The facial expressions of Togatta Kokeshi dolls](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_1784-150x150.jpg.webp "Togatta Kokeshi - Traditional Kokeshi Dolls Developed in Miyagi Zao's "Togatta Onsen" [Miyagi Prefecture]")
