Hybrid Kokeshi -Hijiori Kokeshi

Background of Hijiori

As I have mentioned on previous posts,the origins of many traditional kokeshi -except Tsuchiyu kokeshi- are traced to Togatta or Naruko.Most of them basically inherit their genes from only either of the two - and later,they have built their own personalities as they have grown.

But there is one who naturally inherit his gene from both two sides -that's Hijiori kokeshi.

Hijiori,the meaning "broken elbow", is located in the deep mountains in Yamagata prefecture,famous for its heavy snowfall over 4m(4.4yard) in winter.

Its somewhat odd name come from a folklore - an old wounded Buddhist monk cured his injury by soaking in its onsen(hot spa) - his injury was "broken elbow"(Before knowing it,I had been pretty sure that people had often broken their elbows by slipping and falling on the heavy snowy mountain path).

So,why could Hijiori "have its cake and eat it too"? Its beginning period of kokeshi was the latter half 19th.Its founders had practised their skills at both Naruko and Togatta before.In addition,some Naruko artisans and some Toggata artisans had migrated to Hijiori.So,it resulted in the birth of the hybrid.

Half and Half Kokeshi

[kokeshi description]

• artisan : Sei-ichi Suzuki
• type : Traditional Hijiori
• tall : 26cm(10inch)
• max width : 8cm(3inch)
• max circumference : 26cm(10inch)

This is a typical example of the hybrid."Large-headed" is inherited from Togatta kokeshi,and "square-shouldered" inherited from Naruko kokeshi.But accurately,her dominant gene seems to be Togatta's,because;

• red patterns radiating from the top of head
• red patterns from forehead down the side of both cheek
• eye with pupil,with lower eyelid
• piled up chrysanthemum patterns around body

These features are all Toggata's.But other Hijiori kokeshi have Naruko's features,so,as a whole,they are "half and half".

Well,haven't they built their own personalities but inherited characteristics?
See next picture.

Individual Kokeshi

[kokeshi description]

• artisan : Shoichi Sato
• type : Traditional Hijiori
• tall : 30cm(12inch)
• max width : 10cm(4inch)
• max circumference : 30cm(12inch)

How about this unique visage? I am not sure whether this doll is a girl or a boy.Or,it might not be human -Zashiki-warashi,a child spirit in Tohoku.
But I 'am sure he(she) is a lively monkey - very often annoying his(her) parents.

Hijiori's artisans express such old Japanese rustic simpleness in their works,and this is just their style.

Generally,visages or expressions of kokeshi are also noticeable reflections of each artisan's individuality,and it especially applies to Hijiori's artisans.They seems to have pursued rather developments of their own individualities than those of their style as a group.

But, it is also an unavoidable matter - due to few artisans.Now,there are just several artisans in its group,and just one in the native town.