Kokeshi are Japanese turned wooden dolls, with a cylindrical body and a round head, without arms or legs, painted with simple motifs. They have become one of Japan's most recognisable objects.
An origin in northern Japan
Kokeshi appeared in the Tōhoku region, in the north of the archipelago, towards the end of the Edo period, in the early 19th century. The kijishi, wood turners, sold them to visitors to the hot springs (onsen), which were very popular in the region. The origin of the word kokeshi remains uncertain and several hypotheses exist.
Traditional styles
There are around ten traditional styles, each linked to a spa town or region: Naruko, Tōgatta, Yajirō, Zaō-Takayu, Sakunami, Yamagata, Kijiyama, Hijiori, Tsuchiyu, Nanbu and Tsugaru. Each has its own head shape, silhouette and motifs, often floral. Kokeshi are turned from woods such as dogwood, cherry or maple.
Kokeshi today
Alongside the traditional styles, creative kokeshi developed after the Second World War, freer in their shapes and colours. The kokeshi has also become a motif in its own right, found on everyday objects and lucky charms.
Discover our porcelain and paper kokeshi, and our other Japanese lucky charms, in the maneki neko and lucky charms collection.
