Kokeshi
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Kokeshi (jap. 小芥子 or こけし) are Japanese dolls, originally from northern Japan. They are handmade from wood, have a simple trunk and a huge head with a few thin, painted lines to define the face. The body has a floral design painted in red, black, and sometimes yellow, and covered with a layer of wax. One characteristic of Kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms or legs. The bottom is marked with the signature of the artist.
Kokeshi was first produced by Kiji-shi (wood artisans) in Shinchi, in Togatta/Miyagi Prefecture from where Kokeshi making techniques spread to other spa areas in the Tōhoku Region. It is said that these dolls were originally made to be sold to people who were visiting the hot springs in the north-east of the country from the middle of the Edo period (1600-1868).
Traditional Kokeshi (Dento) dolls shapes and patterns became particular to a certain area and are classified under eleven types to include: Tsuchiyu, Togatta, Yajiro, Naruko, Sakunami, Yamagata, Kijiyama, Nanbu, Tsugaru, Zao-takayu, and Hijioro. The most dominant type is the Naruko variety originally made in Miyagi Prefecture, which can also be found in Akita, Iwate, and Yamagata prefectures.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 Hot Spring resort is known as Kokeshi Street and have shops which are operated directly by the Kokeshi wood artisans.
Creative Kokeshi (Shingata) are completely free in terms of shape, design and color and are relatively new and was developed after World War II. They are not made in one particular region of Japan and generally creative Kokeshi artists are often found in the cities.
The woods used for Kokeshi vary with Cherry used for its darkness and Dogwood which is softer. Itaya-kaede, a Japanese maple is also used. In making of both traditional and creative dolls the wood is left outdoors to season for one to five years before it can be used.
Euphemistic Meaning
The word 'kokeshi' is also used in Japanese as a euphemism for 'dildo', and was thus adopted as the brand name of a successful video label ([www.amorz.com]) which markets JAV (Japanese Adult Video) in the US.
External links
- [Description of Kokeshi production]
- [Click here to buy New Release or Pre-Release of AV Uncensored DVD, the Production from KOKESHI or KOKESHI COWGIRL.]
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