Index...Child Craft Kokeshi and Sayonara Doll Resources and References
These links go to websites that are both informative and useful in teaching about Kokeshi and Sayonara styles of dolls as well as additional types of Japanese dolls.
There seems to be some confusion or argument concerning the history of the origins of Kokeshi dolls and to the meanings attributed to the dolls. One theory suggests that Kokeshi dolls originated through spirituality or religion which held that wooden dolls contained the spiritual essence of ancestors and the dolls would bring good fortune or a good harvest to their owners.
The annual All Japan Kokeshi Competition is held May. Kokeshi dolls of all sorts and other wooden toys and woodturning projects are places on display for competition and sale.
Every year, on the first Saturday and Sunday of September, people gather in Naruko Onsen where craftsmen from across the nation gather to honor Kokeshi in a competition where the number one prize is an award from the Prime Minister
This web site is a good resource for finding out about annual, traditional Japanese Events.
Paper Child Craft Kokeshi and Sayonara Doll Reference and Resources
This PaperKokeshiDolls.com site provides only a brief overview about the dolls since the intent is primarily to provide color book images and crafts suitable to print and color and not to delve into controversy or provide an opinionated conclusion as to the how's and why's of Kokeshi dolls.
For more information about these beautiful and graceful dolls visit these sites:
More Free Kokeshi Doll Craft Patterns
- Togatta
- Yajiro Kokeshi Museum
- Tsuchiyu Kokeshi Museum
- Kokeshi wikipedia.org
- The Story of a Geisha great site with descriptive images for Geisha face painting and hair styles
- Japanese - Kokeshi Doll History, Stories and Legends unless you read Japanese language you'll need to translate this page using the Google Translator function. Some of the page translates a bit wierd, but check it out anyway, it's worth the while
- Free Cultural Theme Coloring Pages
- Wildlife of Japan wikipedia.org
- Japanese traditional dolls wikipedia.org
- Daruma_doll wikipedia.org
- A cute cross stich kokeshi doll pattern
- gogovivi.com blog with interesting usage of kokeshi doll images
- Annual Kokeshi Competition
- From Kokeshi Japanese Theme to Art Toy Gallery of Kokeshi Dolls
- Japanese American National Museum From Kokeshi Japanese Theme to Art Toy
- Kokeshi ask.com wiki
- Japan Traditional Craft Center
- Collected Information About Kokeshi Dolls this is a very long and somewhat rambling document (about 230 pages) of collected information and images. Must register with scribd.com to print or download.
- Yuko Kawada - Kawadayuko's Kokeshi Collection
- Clickable map of the Tohoku region. Note: unless you read Japanese language you'll need to translate this page using the Google Translator function.
- Japanya: A little bit about the history of kokeshi dolls
Free Kokeshi Doll Craft Patterns
- Tutorial: How To Make Japanese Paper Dolls
- Tutorial: Japanese Paper Craft: Kokeshi Doll
- How to Make a Kokeshi Doll Ornament
- Make Toys from Recycled Items
- Doll Pattern (pdf) activityvillage.co.uk
- japanese doll bookmarks (pdf) activityvillage.co.uk
Online Kokeshi and Sayonara Doll Resources
I have not purchased anything from these merchants and am not affiliated with them in any way. They are listed here because they have some good examples of Kokeshi and Sayonara Dolls for sale that are also perfect for some old-fashioned online window shopping.
More Free Kokeshi Doll Craft Patterns
- History of Kokeshi Merchant with a good collection of kokeshi dolls plus history about kokeshis and other Japanese artworks
- Happy Mall A merchant with really good examples of Kokeshi dolls for sale along with other types of wooden dolls
- JUN Japanese Gifts & Souvenirs Merchant with good examples of Sayonara Dolls for sale
- Kokeshi Designs A merchant with a great looking collection of kokeshi dolls for sale arranged by season and holiday categories
- Mugen online merchant with a good selection of Sayonara Dolls in various seasonal and event costumess
- Daruma Dolls good examples of Daruma dolls for sale
- Maneki Neko lucky kitty cat statues for sale
- handcrafteduk.com displays and sells award winning kokeshi doll designs
- kyoto traditions vintage dolls on display for sale
- Mataro Doll this merchant sells doll kits as well as a good selection of wooden dolls
- Northern Japan Traditional Kokeshi a nice collection of dolls on display for sale
- Tsugaru Kokeshi