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Japanese Culture
Kokeshi
Kokeshi are the traditional wooden dolls made in the northern region (touhoku) of Japan. Their main characteristic is cylindrically-shaped body with a round head, generally without hands and feet. While unsophisticated, they have a certain rustic charm that is hard to deny.
Wood from dogwood and cherry trees is whittled down while spinning on a lathe. After the shape is completed, the hair, eyes and noses are painted on the head and kimono on the body. Two or three colors such as red, blue or yellow are used to paint lines or floral pattern. This technique is worthy of being called a craftsman's art and is passed down from master to apprentices.
Kokeshi shapes and pattern vary depending on exactly where they come from, and each of the eight to ten different types of kokeshi is distinctive to its place of origin.
Let's Write it in Kanji!
Note: "Kokeshi" is usually written in hiragana and the kanji characters are rarely used.
