Kijiyama| 木地山系

Kijiyama Kokeshi are produced in Inagawa-machi, Kijiyama and Kawazura all places in Akita-Ken Japan. Akita Prefecture is located in the Tohoku region of Northern Japan it has short summers and very long winters and has had some of the highest snowfalls in all of Japan. It is also the home of Lake Tazawako were the legend of Taksuko was born and is commemorated by a golden statue. Kijiyama Kokeshi can be traced back to the Ogura Family who migrated to Akita in the late 1800s. The defining characteristic of Kijiyama Kokeshi is that it is made of one piece of wood, although earlier ones are believed to have had jointed heads. Kijiyama Kokeshi have beautiful Kimono-like patterns on their bodies, these patterns are rather new it is believed the stripped pattern is only about 60 years old.

Hewn from the snowy silence of Akita’s mountains, Kijiyama Kokeshi carry the warmth of kimono patterns and the legacy of the Ogura family. Their single-piece form and seasonal motifs evoke both simplicity and quiet refinement.

🧭 Origins & Lineage

📍 Region: Inagawa-machi, Kijiyama, Kawazura, Yuzawa, Minase — Akita Prefecture
🧓 Founders: Ogura Family (migrated to Akita in the late 1800s)
🧬 Substrains: Yuzawa
🌨 Climate Note: Akita’s long winters and heavy snowfall shape both the rhythm of production and the spirit of the dolls
🗿 Cultural Landmark: Lake Tazawako — home of the legend of Tatsuko, commemorated by a golden statue

🪵 Materials & Colors

🌳 Wood Type: Mizuki (dogwood)
🎨 Palette: Yellow, Red, Green, Black, Purple, and rare Blue
🧩 Assembly:

Tsukuritsuke: Single-piece construction (head + body)
Older versions: Two-piece with wooden peg

🧠 Head & Hair Designs

🟫 Shapes: Elongated egg-like or rounded heads
💇 Styles:

Full bobbed hair, shingled back
Tuft above nape (Meiji period style)
Bangs with dragonfly bow ornament

😊 Facial Features

👄 Mouth / Lips:

Single line with red dot beneath
Double line

👁 Eyes:

Hangetsu Gata (half moon)
Tsubushi-Me (solid black)
Hitoe Mabuta (single eyelid)

🌸 Cheeks:

Typically no blush
Exception: Sato Tatsuo’s circular blush (inspired by Shuzo Ikeda’s woodblock prints)

🧍‍♀️ Body Shapes & Styles

📏 Form:

Visible neck, rounded shoulders
Slim to slightly chunky profiles
Rare styles: Hina and Ejiko

👘 Kimono Motifs:

Obi (waist belt)
Maedare (apron) styles:

Kasuri (igeta)
Striped
Umebachi (plum crest)

Nested styles also exist

🌼 Floral Motifs

🌸 Common: Chrysanthemums, Iris, Plum blossoms
🌹 Rare: Peonies, Apple blossoms, Bell flowers
🎨 Placement:

Front: Mum or iris patterns
Back: Plum blossoms

🎐 Other Design Elements

👒 Hats: Found in newer pieces
🧸 Daruma-san: Symbolic presence
🪁 Managu-Dako Kite: Occasional motif in kimono design

🧪 Contemporary Notes

🆕 Shingata: Newer Kijiyama Kokeshi often feature personalized flourishes, floral layering, bold kimono stripes, and seasonal accessories, while still honoring the quiet elegance of their snowy origins.

See additional information related to "All Dento" Kokeshi here