"Folksy and Rustic Doll" -Kijiyama kokeshi

Background of Kijiyama Kokeshi

"Kijiyama" = "Kijishi"(woodcrafters) + "yama"(mountains),that is,the name of place originally comes from the history that woodcrafters had lived in the area,mainly in the mountains.As they had been scattered over a wide range in each small group,there are many place called "Kijiyama" in Japan.But "The Kijiyama in kokeshi" is just a certain area in Tohoku - Not all of them had been engaged in kokeshi (about "Kijishi",cf.""Gypsies in Japan").

"Not all of them had been engaged in kokeshi" -it is applied to Kijiyama itself as well.Supposedly,the start of kokeshi production there was not so early,about early 20th.And it came from Naruko,the biggest kokeshi production area.Therefore,early Kijiyama kokeshi were modeled on Naruko kokeshi.And later on,its artisans established their own original style.

Once Kijiyama used to be very popular among kokeshi enthusiasts as a "mecca of kokeshi" because of its mysteriousness -it is located in so deep in the mountains that at that time it was quite out of reach -people always yearn for the unknown with very big fantasy.Now,it has only ten or so artisans.

Shape-shifting Kokeshi?

• craftsman : Kaneichi Sato
• type : Kijiyama
• tall : 25cm(10inch)
• max width : 6cm(2.5inch)
• max circumference : 18cm(7cm)

When I met across her for the first time,I used to think she looked as if she was a stereotyped character in old Japanese fairy tales -in most cases,she played as strange,inscrutable woman,and often changed herself into a "fox" -fox has been
"a symbol of cunning and trickery, or as a familiar animal possessed of magic powers"(quoted from wikipedia) in Japan as well.

Simple is Best!

You can find she puts on an apron -this is "Maedare" in Japanese,and it's one of the most characteristic of Kijiyama kokeshi.But why is such an apron so characteristic?

Authorities say,"this costume was "Sunday best" for girls in Kijiyama region at that time." When I knew it for the first time,I couldn't believe it because it seems just an apron -at least,it is completely different from modern apron dress.And the word "Maedare" has another meaning of "servant" because Maedare was a typical work jumper of servant.This is too modest Sunday best.

Another appearance features are:

• too simple bob cut(in fact,I hesitate to call this hair style "bob cut"...anyway)
• relatively narrow face -in contrast with other type of kokeshi,especially Togatta kokeshi
• half-moon-shaped eyes

And the major difference between Kijiyama kokeshi and others is the physical structure of them. Others are made up of body-part and head- part.That is,artisans make body-part and head-part separately,and join them in the last step.But Kijiyama kokeshi is originally "a unit" -not split into parts.This is simple in terms of its structure,but not easy in terms of crafting process.

The word "simple" is quite an apt remark for Kijiyama kokeshi.I think the girl in the above picture was a typical figure that mirrored the ordinary people of the day.Maybe the girl "Hanako" had to work as a maid away from home to earn money for her poor family.She might be really pushed over,and even needled about her Tohoku accent -that could make her tighter-lipped.
But we don't have to worry about her,because she must change herself into "the rich",not a fox due to her simpleness -like "Oshin",a successful businesswoman from Tohoku.

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"Free from Tradition" -Yajiro kokeshi

Background of Yajiro

"Yajiro"(弥治郎) is originally a person's name,which comes from a local legend that a surviving warrior with the name hid and lived there.

(incidentally,the ending of the word "ro"("郎" or "朗") is a popular given name for boys - for example,"Ichi-ro".)


It is a small village of Kijishi(craft workers) like Toggata.And the production of kokeshi started from the latter half 19th.Its target market was Kamasaki onsen(hot spa area),where is far about one mile from the village.

Yajiro is also located in the foot of Mt.Zao as Toggata is.As I discuss later,this geographical condition relates to Yajiro kokeshi's design significantly.

Children of Togatta Kokeshi

Yajiro kokeshi originally come from Togatta kokeshi -both villages are relatively close to each other in the same foot of Mt.Zao.In fact,early Yajiro's artisans positively introduced the skills and design of Togatta kokeshi into their works.

• artisan : Fukuo Niiyama
• type : Yajiro
• tall : 31cm(12inch)
• max width : 9.5cm(3.7inch)
• max circumferences : 30cm(11.8inch)

As you can see,this doll is large-headed,and this is the feature of the type Togatta kokeshi.It shows a piece of evidence that they both has been "parent and child".But the kids had much "independent-mind".

Switched-on Kokeshi

She has a "body like a bottle".I don't know whether the body line was inspired by Coke,but definitely this is one of Yajiro kokeshi's own characteristics.Yes,Yajiro's artisan had much enterprising spirits.I hear some old kokeshi wore their hair in topknots,and some wore muffler.

The second characteristic is "wear a beret".See below picture.

Why is this stripe patterns around her head called "beret"? I don't know exactly,but more popular was the beret with dark green or purple at the time in Japan.The point is a variety of shade.Now most artisans paint their works with many colours,but the pioneers were Yajiro's artisans.Moreover,some of them had moved from place to place to craft kokeshi - I think their such flexibility also shows they are of Kijishi's origin.So,now artisans of Yajiro group live and craft kokeshi in many areas.

Today,where is the pioneer spirit of Yajiro? Of-course,it still remains in modern Yajiro's artisans.Some are trying to pursue their own originality with respecting its traditional design.I think the essence of tradition in Yajiro is their such attitudes toward works.

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Old Stubborn Kokeshi Boys

Kokeshi Artisan Spirit

At that time when kokeshi were so popular,they had been sold at most antique shops and souvenir shops.But for some kokeshi connoisseurs,"It is NOT COOL" to buy them at these shops.They would take their time to visit artisans'workshops and to get them.It made no difference how long and how much it took and cost them because they wanted to see their favourite artisans and to enjoy talking to them.But -It was never an easy job.

There is a word "artisan spirit" in Japan,which means "determined","strict",and very often "stubborn".They usually applied their such great diligence to their works,but at the same time,they were often applied to "OTHERS" -that is,they were stern with other people -even including their customers and clients.I hear some artisans often made his customers go away or refused to sell his works no matter how much money - In most cases,some customers were so rude and high-and-mighty to them,but sometimes it turned out that they were just in a bad temper.

Godlike Artisan

That remind me of a bitter experiences.Once,I visited an artisan's workshop.Actually,I just stopped off at his shop out of mere curiosity about his shabby workshop and a sign "kokeshi" - of-course,I wasn't so interested in kokeshi at that time.

When I looked through a window,I found an old man was working with sewing machine-like,worn-out machine.He was about 80 years,wrinkled,grey-haired,apparently so fragile an old man -except his stern eyes.He was just crafting his works with rokuro.For just a moment,I hesitated to come in his shop,but I challenged to do -Yes,I was a customer and he was just a seller,and in Japan, "The customer is God!".

I looked at his works -which were put on shelves untidily- for a while,but he said nothing to me.In fact,he didn't even look at me.I felt awkward at the same time I felt angry about his cold shoulder -"What an arrogant man! I never come in such a shop again,and I will never get interested in kokeshi any more!!".I was about to leave the shop.

"Oh,sir,when did you come in?" The old man said to me."I'm sorry that I couldn't notice you.I have poor eyesight and weak hearing.I'm getting too old..." he stood up and came near me slowly."Sorry,as you can see,here are few kokeshi.Now,I just craft ones which my old clients begs me eagerly." He said to me with a slightly wry smile."But if you find ones which you like ,you can take them." I chose two little kokeshi,and when I was just to pay,he said, "No,no,I 'll give them away to you because you kindly come to see my kokeshi all the way." with rather mischievous smile.

Maybe he understood I was just a browser and a know-nothing about kokeshi.It was not the customer that is God,but the seller.

Today few shops sell kokeshi because of less demand.Instead,there has been increasing transactions on online-auction among kokeshi manias.That's great because there is a possibility that kokeshi will gain the acceptance of people worldwide through the Internet.But if you have time,how about coming to Japan and visiting their workshops? I think it is good for you to buy kokeshi face to face because you could get them for free like me -God only knows it!

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