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Kokeshi

December 15, 2023

Kokeshi (こけし, 小芥子) are simple wooden Japanese dolls with no arms or legs that have been crafted for more than 150 years as a toy for children. Originally from the Tohoku region in northern Honshu, kokeshi are handmade from wood, having a simple trunk and head with a few thin, painted lines to define the face. The body often has floral and/or ring designs painted in red, black, and sometimes green, purple, blue, or yellow inks, and covered with a layer of wax. One characteristic of kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms or legs. Since the 1950s, kokeshi makers have signed their work, usually on the bottom and sometimes on the back.

Kokeshi
Finishing a kokeshi
Modern kokeshi

History and etymology edit

The origin and naming of kokeshi is unclear,[1] with historical ateji spellings including 小芥子, 木牌子, 木形子, and 木芥子. The hiragana spelling こけし was agreed on at the All-Japan Kokeshi Exhibition (全国こけし大会) at Naruko Onsen in August 1939. A plausible theory is that "kokeshi" is derived from wooden (木, ki, ko) or small (小, ko), and dolls (芥子, keshi).

A popular theory[2] suggests that kokeshi may be fetish substitutes for unwanted babies killed after birth and the characters can be understood as 子消し (made up of child (子, ko) and erasing, extinguishing (消し, keshi). While infanticide was commonly practiced in Japan until the 20th century,[3] there is little if any evidence to support the theory that kokeshi have anything to do with the practice, with the earliest references in literature dating only from 1965.[4] The word kokeshi itself is originally of the Sendai dialect, with the dolls being known as, for example, deko, kideko, dekoroko; in Fukushima as kibako, kihohoko; in Miyagi as obokko; and in Naruko as hangyo and kiningyō, none of which supports the theory.[4]

Kokeshi were first produced by kijishi (木地師), artisans proficient with a lathe, at the Shinchi Shuraku, near the Tōgatta Onsen in Zaō[5] from where kokeshi-making techniques spread to other spa areas in the Tōhoku region. It is said that these dolls were originally made during the middle of the Edo period (1600–1868) to be sold to people who were visiting the hot springs in the north-east of the country.

One of the earliest doll-focused associations in Japan was the Sendai Kokeshi Association (Sendai Kokeshi-kai) established in 1923 by Mihara Ryōkichi (三原良吉) and Amae Tomiya. The two released a 1928 book about kokeshi, Kokeshi Hōko no Hanashi, which introduced the local tradition to the entire Japan. Mihara continued his work as a journalist and folklorist to his death in 1982, being responsible for popularization of kokeshi and other elements of Sendai folklore.[6]

Types edit

"Traditional" kokeshi (伝統こけし, dentō-kokeshi) dolls' shapes and patterns are particular to a certain area and are classified under eleven types, shown below. The most dominant type is the Naruko variety originally made in Miyagi Prefecture, which can also be found in Akita, Iwate, and Yamagata Prefectures. The main street of the Naruko Onsen Village is known as Kokeshi Street and has shops which are operated directly by the kokeshi carvers.

"Creative" kokeshi (新型こけし, shingata-kokeshi) allow the artist complete freedom in terms of shape, design and color and were developed after World War II (1945). They are not particular to a specific region of Japan and generally creative kokeshi artists are found in cities.

The woods used for kokeshi vary, with cherry used for its darkness and dogwood for its softer qualities. Itaya-kaede, a Japanese maple, is also used in the creation of both traditional and creative dolls. The wood is left outdoors to season for one to five years before it can be used.

Traditional types edit

 
Various kokeshi
 
Dress-up Kokeshi - With a Wardrobe
(Creator: Réka Tóth-Vásárhelyi, photo by Anita Tóth)

Traditional types often correspond to a single or multiple onsen located within the Tōhoku region.[7]

Exhibitions and competitions edit

Traditionally, the National Kokeshi Exhibition and Competition in Shiroishi-Zao is held every year, and in 2022 it took place for the 64th time. In 2015, the event organized for the 57th time was attended for the first time by a master kokeshi maker of non-Japanese nationality, in the person of the Hungarian Réka Tóth-Vásárhelyi. In 2016, she won the main prize in the creative category with his work Dress-up Kokeshi - With a Wardrobe.

In 2022, the Creative Kokeshi Exhibition in Shibukawa was held for the 28th time. Creative Kokeshi Competition is held regularly in Tokyo, Japan.

In popular culture edit

 
Japanese postage stamp showing kokeshi

Kokeshi dolls have been used as an inspiration for the style of Nintendo's digital avatars, called "Miis", which are created and customized by players. Their appearance has become the symbol of the platform's overall aesthetic.[8]

Inspiration for the Momiji Doll originates from the kokeshi doll.

Japanese professional wrestler Tomoaki Honma is nicknamed "Everybody's Kokeshi" (みんなのこけし, minna no kokeshi) after his finishing move "Kokeshi", a diving headbutt where Honma seems to fall lifelessly on his opponent.

Miss Grand Japan 2020, Ruri Saji, wore a kokeshi doll-inspired costume[9] which also transforms into an anime robot, showcasing Japan’s technological advancement in the robotics field. It has won the Best in National Costume title at the Miss Grand International 2020 held in Bangkok, Thailand.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Newman, Michelle. "Kokeshi Dolls" 2009-01-31 at the Wayback Machine. Travelworld International Magazine, March/April 2007. Accessed 7 May 2009.
  2. ^ Booth, Alan. Looking for the Lost: Journeys Through a Vanishing Japan. New York: Kodansha International, 1996, p.129. ISBN 1-56836-148-3.
  3. ^ Shiono, Hiroshi; Atoyo Maya; Noriko Tabata; Masataka Fujiwara; Jun-ich Azumi; Mashahiko Morita (1986). "Medicolegal aspects of infanticide in Hokkaido District, Japan". American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. 7 (2): 104–106. doi:10.1097/00000433-198607020-00004. PMID 3740005. S2CID 483615.
  4. ^ a b こけしに関するＱ＆Ａ / Q & A on Kokeshi . Accessed 11 Aug 2021.
  5. ^ Togatta Hot Spring 2009-09-26 at the Wayback Machine, Japan-i. Accessed 7 May 2009.
  6. ^ Bakkalian, Nyri (2023-02-15). "Mihara Ryōkichi: The Kokeshi Dolls Savior". Unseen Japan. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  7. ^ McDowell, Jennifer E. "Kokeshi: Continued and Created Traditions (Motivations for a Japanese Folk Art Doll)," pp. 263–269 [PDF 279–285 of 317]; retrieved 2012-12-4.
  8. ^ Jones, Steven E.; Thiruvathukal, George K. (2012). Codename Revolution: The Nintendo Wii Platform. MIT Press. pp. 15, 36–37. ISBN 978-0-262-01680-3.
  9. ^ "LOOK: Japan's winning national costume in Miss Grand Int'l is Pinoy-made". ABS-CBN News. 2021-03-28. Retrieved 2021-04-25.

External links edit

  •   The dictionary definition of kokeshi at Wiktionary
  •   Media related to Kokeshi at Wikimedia Commons
  • "32nd Michinoku Kokeshi Festival" at Destination Tohoku
  • "Kokeshi" at Japanya.co.uk
  • The history and meaning of the kokeshi dolls

December 15, 2023
kokeshi, こけし, 小芥子, simple, wooden, japanese, dolls, with, arms, legs, that, have, been, crafted, more, than, years, children, originally, from, tohoku, region, northern, honshu, kokeshi, handmade, from, wood, having, simple, trunk, head, with, thin, painted, l. Kokeshi こけし 小芥子 are simple wooden Japanese dolls with no arms or legs that have been crafted for more than 150 years as a toy for children Originally from the Tohoku region in northern Honshu kokeshi are handmade from wood having a simple trunk and head with a few thin painted lines to define the face The body often has floral and or ring designs painted in red black and sometimes green purple blue or yellow inks and covered with a layer of wax One characteristic of kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms or legs Since the 1950s kokeshi makers have signed their work usually on the bottom and sometimes on the back KokeshiFinishing a kokeshiModern kokeshi Contents 1 History and etymology 2 Types 2 1 Traditional types 3 Exhibitions and competitions 4 In popular culture 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory and etymology editThe origin and naming of kokeshi is unclear 1 with historical ateji spellings including 小芥子 木牌子 木形子 and 木芥子 The hiragana spelling こけし was agreed on at the All Japan Kokeshi Exhibition 全国こけし大会 at Naruko Onsen in August 1939 A plausible theory is that kokeshi is derived from wooden 木 ki ko or small 小 ko and dolls 芥子 keshi A popular theory 2 suggests that kokeshi may be fetish substitutes for unwanted babies killed after birth and the characters can be understood as 子消し made up of child 子 ko and erasing extinguishing 消し keshi While infanticide was commonly practiced in Japan until the 20th century 3 there is little if any evidence to support the theory that kokeshi have anything to do with the practice with the earliest references in literature dating only from 1965 4 The word kokeshi itself is originally of the Sendai dialect with the dolls being known as for example deko kideko dekoroko in Fukushima as kibako kihohoko in Miyagi as obokko and in Naruko as hangyo and kiningyō none of which supports the theory 4 Kokeshi were first produced by kijishi 木地師 artisans proficient with a lathe at the Shinchi Shuraku near the Tōgatta Onsen in Zaō 5 from where kokeshi making techniques spread to other spa areas in the Tōhoku region It is said that these dolls were originally made during the middle of the Edo period 1600 1868 to be sold to people who were visiting the hot springs in the north east of the country One of the earliest doll focused associations in Japan was the Sendai Kokeshi Association Sendai Kokeshi kai established in 1923 by Mihara Ryōkichi 三原良吉 and Amae Tomiya The two released a 1928 book about kokeshi Kokeshi Hōko no Hanashi which introduced the local tradition to the entire Japan Mihara continued his work as a journalist and folklorist to his death in 1982 being responsible for popularization of kokeshi and other elements of Sendai folklore 6 Types edit Traditional kokeshi 伝統こけし dentō kokeshi dolls shapes and patterns are particular to a certain area and are classified under eleven types shown below The most dominant type is the Naruko variety originally made in Miyagi Prefecture which can also be found in Akita Iwate and Yamagata Prefectures The main street of the Naruko Onsen Village is known as Kokeshi Street and has shops which are operated directly by the kokeshi carvers Creative kokeshi 新型こけし shingata kokeshi allow the artist complete freedom in terms of shape design and color and were developed after World War II 1945 They are not particular to a specific region of Japan and generally creative kokeshi artists are found in cities The woods used for kokeshi vary with cherry used for its darkness and dogwood for its softer qualities Itaya kaede a Japanese maple is also used in the creation of both traditional and creative dolls The wood is left outdoors to season for one to five years before it can be used Traditional types edit nbsp Various kokeshi nbsp Dress up Kokeshi With a Wardrobe Creator Reka Toth Vasarhelyi photo by Anita Toth Traditional types often correspond to a single or multiple onsen located within the Tōhoku region 7 Tsuchiyu 土湯系 Tsuchiyu Onsen Fukushima Iizaka Onsen Fukushima Dake Onsen Nihonmatsu Yajirō 弥治郎系 Yajirō Shiroishi Tōgatta 遠刈田系 Tōgatta Onsen Zaō Naruko 鳴子系 Naruko Onsen Ōsaki Sakunami 作並系 or Yamagata Sakunami 山形作並系 Sendai incl Sakunami Onsen Yamagata Yonezawa Sagae Tendō Zaō Takayu 蔵王高湯系 Zaō Onsen Yamagata Hijiori 肘折系 Hijiori Onsen Ōkura Kijiyama 木地山系 Kijiyama Yuzawa Nambu 南部系 Morioka Hanamaki Onsen Hanamaki Tsugaru 津軽系 or Nuruyu 温湯系 Nuruyu Onsen Kuroishi Ōwani Onsen Ōwani Exhibitions and competitions editTraditionally the National Kokeshi Exhibition and Competition in Shiroishi Zao is held every year and in 2022 it took place for the 64th time In 2015 the event organized for the 57th time was attended for the first time by a master kokeshi maker of non Japanese nationality in the person of the Hungarian Reka Toth Vasarhelyi In 2016 she won the main prize in the creative category with his work Dress up Kokeshi With a Wardrobe In 2022 the Creative Kokeshi Exhibition in Shibukawa was held for the 28th time Creative Kokeshi Competition is held regularly in Tokyo Japan In popular culture edit nbsp Japanese postage stamp showing kokeshiKokeshi dolls have been used as an inspiration for the style of Nintendo s digital avatars called Miis which are created and customized by players Their appearance has become the symbol of the platform s overall aesthetic 8 Inspiration for the Momiji Doll originates from the kokeshi doll Japanese professional wrestler Tomoaki Honma is nicknamed Everybody s Kokeshi みんなのこけし minna no kokeshi after his finishing move Kokeshi a diving headbutt where Honma seems to fall lifelessly on his opponent Miss Grand Japan 2020 Ruri Saji wore a kokeshi doll inspired costume 9 which also transforms into an anime robot showcasing Japan s technological advancement in the robotics field It has won the Best in National Costume title at the Miss Grand International 2020 held in Bangkok Thailand See also editJapanese traditional dolls Nipopo Daruma doll Nesting doll Roly poly toyReferences edit Newman Michelle Kokeshi Dolls Archived 2009 01 31 at the Wayback Machine Travelworld International Magazine March April 2007 Accessed 7 May 2009 Booth Alan Looking for the Lost Journeys Through a Vanishing Japan New York Kodansha International 1996 p 129 ISBN 1 56836 148 3 Shiono Hiroshi Atoyo Maya Noriko Tabata Masataka Fujiwara Jun ich Azumi Mashahiko Morita 1986 Medicolegal aspects of infanticide in Hokkaido District Japan American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 7 2 104 106 doi 10 1097 00000433 198607020 00004 PMID 3740005 S2CID 483615 a b こけしに関するＱ Ａ Q amp A on Kokeshi Accessed 11 Aug 2021 Togatta Hot Spring Archived 2009 09 26 at the Wayback Machine Japan i Accessed 7 May 2009 Bakkalian Nyri 2023 02 15 Mihara Ryōkichi The Kokeshi Dolls Savior Unseen Japan Retrieved 2023 07 27 McDowell Jennifer E Kokeshi Continued and Created Traditions Motivations for a Japanese Folk Art Doll pp 263 269 PDF 279 285 of 317 retrieved 2012 12 4 Jones Steven E Thiruvathukal George K 2012 Codename Revolution The Nintendo Wii Platform MIT Press pp 15 36 37 ISBN 978 0 262 01680 3 LOOK Japan s winning national costume in Miss Grand Int l is Pinoy made ABS CBN News 2021 03 28 Retrieved 2021 04 25 External links edit nbsp The dictionary definition of kokeshi at Wiktionary nbsp Media related to Kokeshi at Wikimedia Commons 32nd Michinoku Kokeshi Festival at Destination Tohoku Kokeshi at Japanya co uk The history and meaning of the kokeshi dolls Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kokeshi amp oldid 1189652608, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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