Progress of kokeshi dolls

Creation Kokeshi
Japanese traditional doll

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Order Informatio n	Order	The voice of a customer

About the creative kokeshi dolls

Creative kokeshi (Gumma prefecture)

Kokeshi dolls made from Japanese wood turncry technique has two types:
Traditional Kokeshi which is based on the tradition, and Creative Kokeshi which is based on the artist's creativity.
On the other hand, the Creative kokeshi formed by the free and unrestrained imagination of an individual artist, are manufactured by thier unique techniques, have developed after World War 2.
Gumma Prefecture is proud to be able to produce the top share of Kokeshi dolls of 60%, Since 1954, the prime Minister's prize has been awarded to the best woek of Creative Kokeshi each year, for 30 years, and the creative activity has been stimulated by efforts of many artists, and the specific charm of the Creative Kokeshi incorporated with special technique of engraving, baking, etc., have been catching much attention of the public, an the superior works of the famous artists are appraised as the unique works of art.

Traditional kokeshi (Tohoku region)

Of all the native folk toys of Japan, there is perhaps none so familiar as the "Kokeshi", which is to be found in souvenir shops throughout the nation,
It is said to have originated in the Tohoku region (Northeast Japan) in the hands of the lathe-craftsmen who lived a gypsy life in the mountains of that region, seeking good wood material for their craft.
Eventually, about the middle of the Edo Period, these craftsmen settled down near the many spas that abounded in that region, and began to make bowls and trays to sell to the visitors at the spas.
After a time, they started to make the "Kokeshi", and this, accorging to one viewpoint, was the beginning of the "Kokeshi".
However, there are other possible origins.
One is that they may be related to the household god that had wide belief in the Tohoku region from long in the past.
Again, another possibility is that they may be a modified version of phallic symbols derived from an ancient sex worship.
At any rate, the "Kokeshi" of today is not so much a religious toy or charm as a toy loved for its simple artistry, so that perhaps there is not a sigle school girl in Japan who does not have one adorning her desk.