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[email protected] STRIPESOKINAWA.COM FACEBOOK.COM/STRIPESPACIFIC FREE Studio takes pride in Kokeshi dolls STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHOJI KUDAKA, which have become a popular part- have a long history in the country many traditional kokeshi STRIPES OKINAWA ing gift for PCSing U.S. servicemem- and are thought to have originated dolls have a cylindrical bers. A cloth that wraps around the in Miyagi Prefecture during the torso with a big head, Ryukyuyu okeshi dolls are a common doll unravels to reveal farewell mes- Edo Period (1603-1868), according Miyrabi Kokeshi have a sweep-weep- item carried in many sou- sages from the recipient’s coworkers to The Japan Times. It is because of ing profile with a small headd on top.top. venir shops around Japan. K or friends. this history, that the dolls are often Similarly, their small faces hhaveave a Some are called “Sayonara Dolls,” The cylindrical wooden dolls considered a signature craft of the bright smile and distinct eyesyes set-set- Tohoku region. ting them apart from the myste-myste- Did you know that Okinawa rious countenance with thinlyhinly also has its own kind of drawn facial features of tthehe kokeshi dolls? mainland dolls. Dressed iinn “Ryukyu Miyrabi traditional Okinawan attire,, Kokeshi,” are Okinawan the small dolls are modeled versions of the popular after ordinary people from wooden dolls. the olden days including Manufactured at a stu- classical dancers or fish dio run by Taiki Okinawa, a facility for disabled persons merchants carrying their on the island, the dolls are sig- catch in baskets upon nificantly different from their their head.