| Japanese Kokeshi dolls are small wooden dolls that | | | | design or color. While retaining the fact of no arms or |
| date back to the 1830s. Originally these dolls were | | | | legs and oversized heads that makes them Kokeshi |
| made by craftsmen in northern Japan in the winter | | | | just like the Momiji. |
| months to sell to tourists who were visiting the hot | | | | Both forms of Kokeshi doll are typically made from |
| springs. They have since turned into a symbol of | | | | cherry, dogwood, and Itaya-kaede. The wood is aged |
| Japan. Japanese Kokeshi dolls have turned into an art | | | | for up to five years outside before it is used. Cherry |
| form all their own. | | | | wood is used for its darkness and dogwood because |
| Traditional | | | | it is a soft wood. |
| These little dolls are traditionally made from wood with | | | | Momiji Dolls |
| long slender bodies, enlarged heads and no arms or | | | | Momiji dolls are an offshoot of the Japanese Kokeshi |
| legs. The traditional dolls are all also hand painted with | | | | dolls. These whimsical little dolls were created in the |
| the colors and patterns being different from one region | | | | spirit of friendship and small kindnesses as gifts for |
| to the next. There are eleven known regions for | | | | friends. They hold a message inside the bottom of |
| traditional Kokeshi dolls. The traditional Kokeshi were | | | | them and each doll is unique and different from the |
| painted in red, yellow and purple. | | | | next. There are a lot of people who buy Momiji dolls |
| Creative | | | | as gifts. |
| After World War II the creative Japanese Kokeshi | | | | In 1954 the Prime Ministers Prize was created and has |
| were born. These allowed the artist a bit more | | | | been given every year to the best artist of Kokeshi |
| freedom. Creative Kokeshi dolls can be any shape, | | | | dolls. |