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Kokeshi dolls are one of the traditional crafts that represent the Tohoku region .
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
we will take a closer look at Zao Takayu Kokeshi, which developed around Zao Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture
What is a Kokeshi doll?
Kokeshi dolls are wooden who mainly lived in mountain villages and made a living by using a potter's wheel to make bowls, trays, and other objects, to use as toys for their children or to sell as souvenirs to visitors to nearby hot spring resorts.
Various 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 and Kuroishi cities in Aomori Prefecture)
Southern group (Around Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture)
Kijiyama mountain range (around Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture)
Naruko-style (Naruko Onsen area, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Sakunami-style (Sakunami Onsen area, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Togatta type (Around Togatta Onsen, Zao Town, Katta District, Miyagi Prefecture)
Yajiro lineage (Kamasaki Onsen area, Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Hijiori group (around Hijiori Onsen, Okura Village, Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture)
Yamagata-style (around Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture)
Zao Takayu system (Zao Onsen area, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture)
Tsuchiyu area (Tsuchyu Onsen area, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture)
Kokeshi dolls have many different names, such as kideko , dekoroko , kogesu , kiboko , hakogehoko , kinakinabokko, and odekosama.
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
As you can see, kokeshi dolls were called by completely different names in different regions, but in 1940 (Showa 15), the "1st Local Gathering/Naruko Convention" , many people including kokeshi craftsmen and enthusiasts gathered and decided to unify the name into three hiragana characters, "kokeshi," and from then on, kokeshi came to be called "kokeshi" in all regions.
Zao Takayu style kokeshi dolls developed around Zao Onsen
The Zao Takayu style kokeshi one of the 12 styles, and developed around Zao Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture .
The "Zao Takayu style Kokeshi" was born when Abe Tsunematsu, a woodworker from Tsuchiyu, moved to Zao, Yamagata during the Meiji period
Since Togatta in Miyagi Prefecture was located nearby, just across Mount Zao, it was strongly influenced by Togatta-style kokeshi dolls, and since Tsunematsu was from Tsuchiyu, it is said that it was also influenced by Tsuchiyu-style kokeshi dolls
Zao Takayu style Kokeshi dolls
They are characterized by their large heads and rounded, sturdy bodies, some of which resemble women with slender waists
The body of the doll features designs of layered chrysanthemums, crumpled cherry blossoms, and safflowers, among other plants representative of Yamagata, and the head is also characterized by a red radial pattern called tegara, which
Zao Onsen, a hot spring with a history dating back 1900 years
Zao Onsen is one of Japan's oldest hot springs, said to have first been discovered 1,900 years ago, and began to become popular around the Edo period as the western trailhead to Zao Gongen
During the Taisho era, a road was opened connecting the hot springs with the villages at the foot of the mountain, and various facilities were built. In the Showa era, a ski resort also opened, and the mountain developed into a major tourist destination known as "Zao Onsen."
Zao Onsen Kamiyu Public Bath and Sukawa Onsen Shrine's Main Gate
Zao's hot springs, which are said to have been discovered by Kibi no Takayu, who accompanied Emperor Yamato Takeru on his eastern expedition, are highly acidic sulfur springs that are known for their antibacterial and skin-strengthening properties, making them famous as "beauty-making hot springs."
Takayu Street in Zao Onsen Town
Kokeshi dolls began to be made in the Meiji period, when Abe Tsunematsu, a woodworker from Tsuchiyu mentioned above, moved to the area and was born
By the way, it is said that the "Zao Takayu" in the "Zao Takayu style Kokeshi" comes from the name of Kibi no Takayu, the discoverer of the stone
Even today, many hot spring facilities and shops line Takayu Street in Zao Onsen
Zao Onsen <Information>
Name: Zao Onsen
Address: Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-2301
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]")
