[Yamagata Prefecture] “Zao Takayu Kokeshi” is a traditional kokeshi doll that was developed in Zao Onsen following the flow of Tsuchiyu and Togatta.

Edit3.51
2024.11.26
Last updated: 2024.10.28

table of contents

1 What is Kokeshi?
- 1.1 Various names and their origins
2 Zao Takayu style kokeshi dolls developed around Zao Onsen
3 Zao Onsen has a history of 1900 years.
- 3.1 Zao Onsen＜Information＞

Kokeshi dolls are one of the traditional crafts representing the Tohoku region .

It is a craft that has spread over a fairly wide area, with at least one unique lineage existing in every prefecture in Tohoku.

we took a closer look at the ``Zao Takayu Kokeshi'', which was developed around Zao Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture

What is Kokeshi?

Kokeshi dolls are made by craftsmen called kijishi who lived mainly in mountain villages and 's wheel to make bowls and trays for a living. It is a wooden toy that was made to be sold as a souvenir to tourists in hot spring resorts.

It is said to have originated around the end of the Edo period, and is generally divided into the following 12 strains based on production area and characteristics.

Tsugaru type (around Hirosaki City and Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture)
Southern type (around Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture)
Kiji Mountain Range (around Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture)
Naruko type (around Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Sakunami system (around Sakunami Onsen, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Togatta system (around Togatta Onsen, Zao Town, Katta District, Miyagi Prefecture)
Yajiro type (around Kamasaki Onsen, Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Hijiori series (around Hijiori Onsen, Okura Village, Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture)
Yamagata series (around Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture)
Zao Takayu system (around Zao Onsen, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture)
Tsuchiyu system (around Tsuchiyu Onsen, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture)
Nakanosawa series (around Nakanosawa Onsen, Inawashiro-cho, Yama-gun, Fukushima Prefecture)

Various names and their origins

Kokeshi dolls have many other names, including , Dekoroko , Kogesu , Kiboko , Kogehoko , Kinakinabokko , Odekosama

Where did the name "kokeshi" originally come from? There are various theories about this,

Transformation of the pest control toy to prevent epidemics
Changes in burnt (piece of wood) cheeks (doll)
Koge (wood cutting) meaning of shi (child)
The accent of a small doll called okeshi that was popular in the Edo period.

There are multiple theories such as. Each theory has a certain level of persuasive power, and the aliases mentioned above are thought to have evolved by adding local accents to the names based on their respective origins.

In this way, Kokeshi dolls were called by completely different names in various places, but in 1940 (Showa 15), Kokeshi craftsmen and enthusiasts attended the ``1st Local Gathering - Naruko Festival'' A number of people related to the festival got together and decided to unify the word ``kokeshi'' into three hiragana letters, and from then on it has been called ``kokeshi'' in all regions.

Zao Takayu style kokeshi dolls developed around Zao Onsen

the Zao Takayu style kokeshi dolls were developed around Zao Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture .

During the Meiji period, Abe Tsunematsu, a woodworker from Tsuchiyu, moved to Zao, Yamagata, and ``Zao Takayu Kokeshi'' was born.

Because Togatta in Miyagi Prefecture was located close to Mt. Zao, it was strongly influenced by the Togatta type of Kokeshi dolls, and since Tsunematsu was from Tsuchiyu, it was also influenced by the Tsuchiyu type. It is said that there are.

It has a large head and a rounded, solid body that is reminiscent of a woman with a curvy neck.

In addition to capped chrysanthemums and cherry blossoms, the torso pattern depicts representative plants of Yamagata, such as safflower, and the head has a red radial pattern called tegara, which It is also distinctive that it is drawn.

Zao Onsen has a history of 1900 years.

Zao Onsen is one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, and is said to have opened 1900 years ago, and it began to become popular around the Edo period as the western trailhead to Zao Gongen.

In the Taisho era, a road connecting the village at the foot of the mountain and the hot springs was opened, and various facilities were built there.In the Showa era, a ski resort opened and the area developed into a major tourist destination called Zao Onsen.

Zao Onsen Kamiyu public bath and Sugawa Onsen Shrine Omotesando gate

The hot springs in Zao are said to have been discovered by Kibi no Takayu, who served in the eastern expedition of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto.The hot springs in Zao are said to be highly acidic sulfur springs, and have bactericidal effects on the epidermis and the skin. It is also famous as a ``beauty-making hot spring'' because it has the effect of strengthening the body.