Kokeshi

Kokeshi are dolls made from wood that has been sawn with a lathe.
The production of kokeshi mostly happens in onsen (hot spring) areas in the Tohoku region of Japan. It is said that kokeshi originated because kijishi (wood artisan) made daily necessities from wood, such as bowls and trays, but used the leftover wood to make toys and dolls for children, which were sold as souvenirs at onsen, and started to spread around the area. It is stated by Toshio Hirai in his book The Truth of Kokeshi: ‘’Kokeshi was born, based on the characteristic culture and natural features of Tohoku region, inspired by Jōmon culture that honored nature. It was something special you wouldn’t find anywhere else. They continued to live on and became the “kokeshi” that we know today.’’