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Kokeshi dolls are one of the representative traditional crafts of 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
This time, we've taken a closer look at "Sakunami Kokeshi," a type of kokeshi doll that developed around Sakunami Onsen in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
What is a Kokeshi doll?
Kokeshi dolls are wooden toys made primarily by woodworkers called "kijishi," who lived in mountain villages and made bowls , trays, and other items using a potter's wheel to 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.
Kokeshi dolls "Sakunami Taro" and "Sakunami Hanako" at Sakunami Station on the JR Senzan Line
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 have many other names, such as kideko , dekoroko , kogesu , kiboko , and even kogehouko , kinakinabokko , and odekosamaきでこ
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.
Sakunami-style Kokeshi dolls developed around Sakunami Onsen
One of the 12 kokeshi doll styles, the Sakunami-style kokeshi doll developed around Sakunami Onsen in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture .
It is said that the origins of Sakunami-style kokeshi dolls date back to the end of the Edo period, when a man named Nanjo Tokuemon, who moved to this area from Odawara, began making them as toys for children
There is also a record that Nanjo Tokuemon was the master of Kobayashi Soji, who is said to be the founder of the Yamagata style of kokeshi (Yamagata Sakunami style), and it is said that Sakunami kokeshi may be one of the oldest of all the birthplaces of kokeshi
Traditionally, the main materials used are the logs of Itaya maple and Mizuki, which grow wild in the Tohoku region, but in recent years cherry blossom, camellia, and locust tree have also been used
Sakunami style kokeshi dolls
Originally children's toys, these kokeshi dolls are characterized by their small heads and slender, easy-to-grip bodies. Along with the Yamagata-style kokeshi (Yamagata-Sakunami style), a derivative of the Sakunami style, they"kokeshi dolls that don't stand up." However, as time has passed and their use has shifted to that of ornamental objects, their bodies have become thicker in recent years.
Furthermore, the "Kokeshi doll with a stand," which retains the traditional slender body shape but has a base that widens at the bottom like a stand , is also considered a unique shape of the Sakunami style that developed to suit decorative purposes.
The chrysanthemum pattern called "Kani-Kiku" (Crab Chrysanthemum) is painted on the body
One of its distinctive features is the body pattern, which at first glance resembles a crab and is called "crab chrysanthemum ."
Hiraga Kokeshi Shop, located in Sakunami Onsen
Hiraga Kokeshi Shop is a workshop and store run by Hiraga Teruyuki, an 8th generation craftsman of the Hiraga lineage of Sakunami, which has a history of over 100 years, and is currently the only store in Sakunami Onsen where you can purchase Sakunami style kokeshi dolls
Hiraga Kokeshi Store
It is located across the Hirose River from the hot spring inn "Yuzukushi Salon Ichinobo" in Sakunami, and in addition to traditional Sakunami kokeshi dolls, it also produces and sells original kokeshi dolls in collaboration with various Sendai specialties
Inside Hiraga Kokeshi Shop
Although advance reservations are required, there are also activities such as kokeshi doll painting experiences
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]")
