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Yamagata Kokeshi – Traditional Kokeshi created by Kobayashi Soji, who trained in woodworking at Sakunami Onsen in the Sendai domain [Yamagata Prefecture]
Yamagata Kokeshi – Traditional Kokeshi created by Kobayashi Soji, who trained in woodworking at Sakunami Onsen in the Sendai domain [Yamagata Prefecture]
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 "Yamagata Kokeshi," which originated in Hatagocho, Yamagata City, 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.
Various 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.
Yamagata-style kokeshi dolls were known as "kokeshi that cannot stand up" due to their thin bodies
"Yamagata style kokeshi" is "Yamagata Sakunami style," and is said to have originated in 1860 (the first year of the Man'en era) when a man named Kobayashi Kuraji, who apprenticed to a woodworker in Sakunami Onsen, Sendai Domain, opened a woodworking business in the town of Hatago in Yamagata.
Yamagata-style Kokeshi dolls
As they are descended from the Sakunami style, their features are similar: the insertable head is decorated with red ornaments, bangs, and hair on both sides, and the slender body is decorated with plum and cherry blossoms, as well as safflower, the prefectural flower of Yamagata
The original purpose of these kokeshi dolls was to be a children's toy, but their thin bodies made them easy for children to hold, which was a drawback, and they were famous for being unable to stand up . However, as their use shifted to being decorative, their bodies became thicker.
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]")
