The people who live in our house, No 7

This is our Japanese Kokeshi doll. She came home with us from Japan in 2017.  We bought her on the island of Miyajima where we stayed for a few nights after visiting Hiroshima. It seems fitting at the moment that she resides near our television. We are enjoying the Olympics in Tokyo although we are nervous for all those talented athletes for fear they become infected.

Kokeshi are handmade wooden dolls distinguished by a single trunk and head, with their faces and clothing painted on. Unlike most other types of dolls, Kokeshi don’t have defined hands, legs and feet. It is thought that Kokeshi dolls were originally sold to visitors to hot springs in the Tohoku region of Japan during the late Edo period (1600-1868), to supplement business and keep workers' hands busy during the winter months.

Modern Kokeshi sometimes have their hair carved into the wood that the doll is made from, so that it visually protrudes from the Kokeshi’s head. This is in contrast to traditional Kokeshi which usually have hair painted onto the usual round head.

Our Kokeshi stands 14cm tall.