Kokeshi doll

Japanese: こけし

A wooden doll turned on a potter's wheel. It has no arms or legs, a cylindrical body with a spherical head, and the face and body are painted. Originally a local doll unique to the Tohoku region, it is said to have originated in the areas around Zao (Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures) and Mount Kurikoma (Iwate, Miyagi and Akita prefectures). It is believed to have started being made after the mid-Edo period. It is a handicraft product of woodworkers who make miscellaneous wooden utensils using a potter's wheel, and is one of the types of wooden toys such as tops, flutes, pacifiers and daruma dolls, and appeared as a souvenir for visitors to the hot spring resorts scattered throughout the region. From around the Taisho period, it became a subject of collection and appreciation by adults, and there are many enthusiasts. These types of traditional works are called "old style (traditional) kokeshi." There are also "new style kokeshi," which have been seen all over the country since the end of World War II as tourist souvenirs, and "creative kokeshi," which are unique expressions of modern sensibilities.

[Ryosuke Saito]

Origin and production

There are various theories about the origin of Kokeshi dolls, including the religious toy theory, which says it originated from Oshirasama, a folk belief that remains in Iwate, Akita, and Aomori prefectures, or Yamanaka Sansuke, a religious wooden doll from the Tsugaru region; the indigenous toy theory, which says it started as a toy made by woodworkers living in mountain villages and given to their young girls; and the pacifier theory, which says it evolved from other toys such as pacifiers for infants. The woodworkers who make Kokeshi dolls have their own lineages. According to the Shinpen Aizu Fudoki, published in 1809 (Bunka 6), when Gamo Ujisato was granted the fief of Aizu (Fukushima prefecture) from Omi Province (Shiga prefecture) in 1590 (Tensho 18), he sent woodworkers and woodcutters from Ogura Manor in Goshu to live in Aizu-Wakamatsu and make the woodwork. Woodworkers who had been living in the area for a long time were called 'ji' (resident) woodworkers, those who had migrated from Omi or Shinano (Nagano Prefecture) were called 'watariki' (moving) woodworkers, and those who arrived even later were called 'nagareki' (flowing) woodworkers. The history of woodworkers dates back to the Asuka period, but in 875 (Jogan 17), Prince Koretaka, son of Emperor Montoku, encouraged the residents of Tsutsui, Ogura-go, Goshu, to learn lathe techniques. He is revered as the ancestor of woodworkers in Japan, and Tsutsui is considered the birthplace of woodworking. Woodworkers who worked in forests all over the country received licenses from the Tsutsui Kumonjo to cut down trees for wood materials, and wandered the mountains to make tableware from turned wood.

Kokeshi dolls are called various names in the local dialect, including "kogesu," "kiboko," "kinakina," and "kideko." In 1940 (Showa 15), the Tokyo Kokeshi Friendship Association adopted the name "kokeshi," but today, they are uniformly called by this name. The wood used to make kokeshi dolls includes dogwood, sugar maple, and white maple, but also Chinese laurel and cherry. After the autumn equinox, when the trees enter a period of rest, they are cut down and allowed to dry for several months before being cut and turned on a potter's wheel. The wood is attached to the rotating shaft of the potter's wheel, and as it rotates, a blade is applied to it and shaved.

[Ryosuke Saito]

Classification

There are three types: (1) "Tsukuritsuke" where the head and body are made from a single piece of wood, (2) "Insashikomi" where the head and body are carved separately and the head is fitted to the body, and (3) "Hamekomi" where the head is fitted to the body and rotates to make noise or move unsteadily. In addition, kokeshi dolls are classified into the following 10 categories based on the differences in production techniques, painting and coloring, shapes, and characteristics.

[1] Tsuchiyu series: inlay style. The top of the head has an ink snake-eye pattern, and the body has many wheel-turned lines. Most of these are produced in Tsuchiyu Onsen, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture.

[2] Yajiro type: Insertion type. The head is large and has beret-like wheel marks on the top. Most of these are produced in the Yajiro village of Yatsumiya, Fukuoka, Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture.

[3] Togatta Series: Insert type. There are eight types of body patterns, including chrysanthemums, and the painting and coloring are gorgeous. Most of these are produced in Togatta Shinchi, Zao-cho, Katta-gun, Miyagi Prefecture.

[4] Naruko type: These are fitted together and make a sound when you turn the head. They are mainly produced in Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture.

[5] Yamagata-Sakunami type: Insertion type. The body is thin compared to the head. It is mainly produced in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, and Sakunami Onsen, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.

[6] Zao lineage: Insertion type. A new lineage that branched off from the Togatta lineage. Mostly produced in Zao Onsen, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture.

[7] Hijiori type: Insertion type. A unique branch developed from the Naruko and Togatta types. Most of these are produced in Hijiori Onsen, Okura Village, Mogami County, Yamagata Prefecture.

[8] Kijiyama style: Built-in. The apron is drawn on the body pattern. There is also a chrysanthemum pattern. The main type is Minase Kijiyama in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture.

[9] Southern style: There are two types: a colorless pacifier-style kimono called kinakina, and a colored version. These are mainly found in Hanamaki and Morioka cities in Iwate Prefecture.

[10] Built-in warm water. Mostly from Nuruyu Onsen in Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture.

[Ryosuke Saito]

"Kokeshi Encyclopedia" edited by Shinichi Kanno (1983, Iwasaki Bijutsusha)

Yajiro Kokeshi
Miyagi Prefecture © Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Division ">

Yajiro Kokeshi

Togatta Kokeshi dolls
Miyagi Prefecture © Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Division ">

Togatta Kokeshi dolls

Naruko Kokeshi Doll

Hijiori Kokeshi doll

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

ろくろでひいた木製の人形。手足がなく、円筒状の胴に球形の頭をつけ、顔と胴模様を描いたもの。元来は東北地方特有の郷土人形で、蔵王(ざおう)（宮城、山形県）、栗駒山(くりこまやま)（岩手、宮城、秋田県）周辺が発生の中心とされる。つくり始められたのは江戸中期以後と推定される。ろくろを使った木地(きじ)雑器をつくる木地師（木地屋）の手工芸的生産品で、こま、笛、おしゃぶり、達磨(だるま)などの木地玩具(がんぐ)類の一つであり、この地方に散在する温泉地の湯治客相手の土産(みやげ)物として登場した。大正期ごろから成人層の収集、鑑賞趣味の対象となり、愛好者が多い。なおこの種の伝統的な作品群を「旧型（伝統）こけし」といい、そのほか第二次世界大戦後全国各地にみられる観光土産の「新型こけし」、さらに現代感覚を個性的に表現した「創作こけし」がある。

［斎藤良輔］

起源・製作

こけしの祖型については、岩手、秋田、青森県地方に残る民間信仰のおしらさまや、津軽地方の信仰的木偶の山中三助に起因するという信仰玩具説、山村生活の木地屋が自分たちの幼女につくり与えたのが始まりとする固有玩具説、あるいは幼児のおしゃぶり類などほかの玩具から転化したというおしゃぶり起源説などがある。これをつくる木地師にはそれぞれの系譜がある。1809年（文化6）に成った『新編会津風土記(ふどき)』によれば、1590年（天正18）蒲生氏郷(がもううじさと)が近江(おうみ)国（滋賀県）から会津（福島県）に封ぜられた際、江州小椋荘(おぐらのしょう)から木地頭(がしら)、木地挽(ひ)きを会津若松に住まわせ、木地を製作せしめたとある。それ以前からすでに居住していた木地師を地（居）木地師、近江や信濃(しなの)（長野県）から移住してきたものを渡り木地師、さらに遅れてきたものを流れ木地師などという。木地師の歴史は古く飛鳥(あすか)時代にまでさかのぼるが、875年（貞観17）文徳(もんとく)天皇の皇子惟喬(これたか)親王が、江州小椋郷筒井の地で住民にろくろ技術を奨励し、わが国木地師の祖と仰がれ、筒井は木地業発祥の地とされた。全国の山林で働く木地師は、筒井公文所(くもんじょ)から木地材料の樹木伐採許可の免状を受け、山中を流浪して挽物(ひきもの)の食器類製作を業とした。

　こけしは、方言で「こげす」「きぼこ」「きなきな」「きでこ」など、さまざまによばれる。1940年（昭和15）東京こけし友の会が「こけし」の名称を用いたが、現在はこの名称で統一されてよばれている。こけしの材料とする木は、ミズキ、イタヤカエデ、ハクウンボクなどで、ホウ、サクラも用いる。秋の彼岸以後、樹木の活動が停止期に入ると伐採、数か月乾燥後、木取りしてろくろで挽く。ろくろの回転軸に木を取り付け、回転させながら刃物を当てて削る。

［斎藤良輔］