ISSUE 10: ALL ABOUT KOKESHI DOLLS
Kokeshi dolls are traditional Japanese wooden dolls usually made for children. It is said that kokeshi were originally sold to visitors to hot springs in the Tohoku region of Japan during the late Edo period (1600-1868), to supplement business and keep workers' hands busy during the winter months. Over the years they have become increasingly popular worldwide, especially amongst shinnichi (Japanophiles) and collectors.
Kokeshi doll making has now come to be recognized as one of Japan's most vibrant folk arts. Traditionally comprising a simple trunk and enlarged head with a few thin, painted lines for detail, kokeshi designs have become increasingly intricate, diverse and faithful to the human form over the years, resulting in the attractive and relatively lifelike dolls you see today.
Opinions vary greatly regarding the meaning of kokeshi dolls and their spiritual significance. Most interpretations are centered around children, with some believing that kokeshi represent the wish for a healthy child, and others that they bring children closer to the mountain spirits. Many people also agree that they were originally exchanged as tokens of friendship, with messages concealed within.
Every September, a kokeshi doll festival is held in Naruko, in which unwanted kokeshi are put on a pyre and burned.
Kokeshi dolls are made from seasoned wood, typically taken from the cherry or mizuki tree, is cut into small, kokeshi-sized pieces before the edges are roughly shaved and rounded off. Each piece is then turned on a lathe and cut to shape using first a largish plane and then a smaller one. Next, the craftsman files down the surface before drawing the design onto the face and body and then painting this on with a brush. Once the paint is dry, a layer of wax is applied to the surface, which is then polished to a fine sheen.