The meaning of Kokeshi

Ok. Today a little of culture.
There is one blog I try to read often, because I find it a great blog which uses various topics, but all them of interest and also gives a personal opinion of things that sure aren't a waste of time. That's Nora's blog "Una japonesa en Japón ー　ある帰国子女のブログ" And also I find interesting that she wrote always the same entrie with both idioms: spanish and japanese. A good way to unite people of differents idioms.

The other day I read one entrie that caught my attention. It was about the japanese Kokeshi dolls. After ask her to use their information, I'm going to share what Nora wrote about this. Since you can read at her blog the same information in spanish and japanese, I'll write it with english (literally translated). So, if there are still doubts, the information I'm going to use today doesn't belong to me. I must say too, she spent 10 months collecting information for this entrie. I think that's an important point. And that 10 months weren't a waste of time.

I have to say that, I didn't know anything about Kokeshi dolls since I read her entrie, but apart I found it an interesting topic, it made me thing on something. I hope you will create your own ideas after read it too.

So well, here with the information.

** What is said about the origin of Kokeshi dolls (in blogs)
>> It means dead girl, replacing dead girls from the poorest families in the area
>> Despite being pretty, have a dark and gloomy sense, because it means get rid of a girl.
>> The sound produced when turning the head that fits into the cylinder of wood, produces a sound like the cry of a girl.
>> Represents children who were killed because it's a society that kills children.
>> I'm not surprised that represents the dead children because japanese are thus.
>> They manufactured dolls in order that disappear remorse.

....and more things.

** What is said about the name (in blogs)
(in spanish and japanese blogs)
** 子消し= 子(ko) - child
消し(keshi) - erase

** 小芥子= 小(ko) - little
芥(ke, keshi) - dust, rubissh
子(shi, ko) - child

** The real meaning of Kokeshi dolls.
Kokeshi dolls began to be manufactured in the region Touhoku (north of the archipelago) at the end of Edo period, and the oldest doll was manufactured, according to the documents, for the years 1804 to 1830 in Miyagi Prefecture.
These dolls were born as gift for the tourist who visited the hot springs of Touhoku, a rural region with a lot of snow during winter months and very hard to live. The sale of these toys helped to develop the economy of the area that it was only based on agriculture.

The art of manufacturing cylindrical wooden dolls and now varies from region and for the people who live there, was passed down from father to son, from children to grandchildren and from masters to disciples.

** The origin of Kokeshi name.
These dolls have different names by region.
Deku（でく）、Houko（ほうこ）、Kiboko（きぼこ）、Keshi （けし）、Koguesu （こげす） … entre otros.

That's why in year 1940, the artisans were brought together to give a single name, 「こけし」-Kokeshi in hiragana, and is of this way how is writen

currently.

** The why of 子消し (”erase” a child)
This word appeared for first time in 1965, in a novel of a japanese writer, where he made a pun (very typical in japanese language) without thinking of the consequences.
From that year, began to invent stories with words like "dead children" or "were killed" in some televisions programs and magazines.

That's why, the word "erase a child" (子消し）, didn't exist when the dolls were started to be manufactured, there is no point in commom

and Nora thinks that this doesn't exist with this meaning in any Japanese dictionary, but unfortunately, still now there are a lot of japanese who still thinking that is of this way because they were said or they heard that was of this way, and for foreigners... is of this way because Japanese are thus.

** The real meaning of the word 「こけし」(Kokeshi)

Currently is used this word in hiragana all over the country to refer to craft dolls, but the origin is the word 小芥 (Kokeshi)

** 小 (ko) = little
** 芥 (keshi) = poppy fruit

As you can see, the head of Kokeshi doll sesms at poopy fruit. And that's the why of the name.

Thanks to Nora for letting me use her information.