Japanese Kokeshi dolls at auction | Tohoku Japanese Kokeshi the birthplace of the cute wooden Japanese doll | Tohoku Onsens

ABOUT ME

I would like to welcome to Kokeshiwonderland. We hope to become the first place where people come to learn and buy Japanese Kokeshi. Please take you time and check out the stores there may be something there that takes your liking.

Please also take time to look at my MYSPACE site www.myspace.com/kokeshiwonderland where you can leave messages and have a look at a few pictures of the area where Kokeshi dolls originate from. I was born in Sendai in Tohoku so I will try to introduce something about the region. I have just started the site today so please be patient while it develops.

(If you aren't an eBay member, you can join for free by clicking the purple link here or the register for ebay link top left of the site)

Also don't forget the Blog area where I will introduce various topics of interest from Tohoku .The initial blog was about the Akiyu onsen area one of the areas where Japanese Kokeshi originally came from.

KOKESHI
Japanese Kokeshi Dolls or Ningyo are hand-made from wood and originated from the hot spring areas of Tohoku region of northern Japan. This craft of making Kokeshi dolls has been handed down from generation to generation and has spread throught Japan.

TRADITIONAL
Traditional Kokeshi dolls shapes and patterns became particular to a certain area and are classified under eleven individual styles:
Tsuchiyu
Togata
Yajiro
Naruko
Sakunami
Yamagata
Kijiyama
Nanbu
Tsugaru
Zao
Hijiori

These also are the names of the famous hot spring areas of this region.

CREATIVE
Creative Kokeshi dolls made in the “Creative” style are the modern interpretation of this tradition. The artist has free reign in designing the dolls. This type of Kokeshi started in the post war period.