Kokeshi Dolls

Kokeshi are wood-turned, peg-style, dolls that originated in Northern Japan and have been crafted for over 150 years. Originally made as toys, they have become quite popular as souvenirs for tourists. Kokeshi are typically represented as female, and their main distinguishing characteristic is the lack of arms and legs.

These two Kokeshi are are designed differently in order to represent the variances between styles and levels of ornamentation. The red Kokeshi is representative of the “traditional style” which is generally more minimalist, and made in accordance with certain “official artistic standards.” The green is representative of what is called “creative style” which, basically, means that they are “non-traditional” and can take-on whatever qualities that its creator envisions

Fun Fact: According to my research, it has been suggested that Kokeshi may be inspiration for the designs of modern kawaii and/or the appearance of avatars within some video games.