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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 will take a closer look at the "Kijiyama Kokeshi," which developed in the Kijiyama area of the former Minase village (now Yuzawa City) in Akita Prefecture and the Kawatsura area of Yuzawa City
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.
Uniquely expressive wooden kokeshi dolls
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.
Kijiyama style kokeshi dolls were born when woodworkers from all over Japan gathered in this area at the end of the Edo period
At the end of the Edo period, many woodworkers in search of high-quality timber moved to this area from Omi (Shiga Prefecture) and Shinano (Nagano Prefecture), passing through Aizu (Fukushima Prefecture) and Onikobe (Miyagi Prefecture)
After a while, these woodworkers began making kokeshi dolls as souvenirs for the nearby Doroyu Onsen and Oyasukyo Onsen hot springs, and the "Kijiyama style Kijiyama Kokeshi" was born.
Naruko Onsen just beyond the mountains , and it is said that early Kijiyama-style kokeshi dolls were heavily influenced by Naruko-style kokeshi dolls.
As time passed and the Meiji period began, government policy restricted the felling of timber, and many woodworkers from the Kijiyama area moved down the mountain to what is now the Kawatsura area of Yuzawa City, which is famous as the production center of Kawatsura lacquerware
Later, local woodworkers in the Kawatsura area also began making kokeshi dolls, and the kokeshi dolls that began to be made in the Kawatsura area came to be known as "Kijiyama Kawatsura Kokeshi."
As a result, there are now two schools of : "Kijiyama style Kijiyama Kokeshi" and "Kijiyama style Kawatani Kokeshi."
Kijiyama River Kokeshi
"tsukuri-tsuke," which the head and body are made from a single piece of wood , and they have a pickled radish-shaped head and a flared body.
Another unique feature is that the torso is depicted wearing a kimono, with plum blossoms, diamonds, stripes, and other designs on the apron
Another characteristic of these paintings is that the eyes are clearly drawn, with upper and lower eyelids and black eyes, and many of them have an indescribable expression that evokes sadness
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.
![Nakanosawa Kokeshi's expression](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_1785-150x150.jpg.webp "Nakanosawa Kokeshi - Traditional Kokeshi that has evolved after breaking from the reputation of being a "part of the Doyu" [Fukushima Prefecture]")
![The expression of the Doyu Kokeshi](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_1799-150x150.jpg.webp "Doyu Kokeshi - Traditional kokeshi originating from "Doyu Onsen", which is said to be the birthplace of the three major kokeshi at Tohoku [Fukushima Prefecture]")
