150 Year Old Japanese Toys | Yajiro Kokeshi Factory

Ойын-сауық

Kokeshi have a long history as gifts from Tohoku's hot spring towns. There are 10 or 11 main varieties of Kokeshi and today we're at the Yajiro Kokeshi Village in Shiroishi, Miyagi about 1 hour from Sendai city.
Niiyama-san who is a Kokeshi master artisan will make one for us in his workshop and explain about the colors, the styles and how to judge what makes them beautiful. You can check out this Kokeshi village here, not far from the Zao Fox Village and other area attractions: goo.gl/maps/WErFZYdVQFKmXcT4A
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Пікірлер: 68

  • @coolcicada
    @coolcicada2 жыл бұрын

    The Funko Pop of the 20th century. Very neat.

  • @shannondore
    @shannondore2 жыл бұрын

    He was a lovely man and such talent. I want a Kokeshi doll. They are so adorable and beautiful. Thanks John.😊

  • @jeremybiwer8756
    @jeremybiwer87562 жыл бұрын

    Wow, the skill he has developed doing this for so long is amazing.

  • @007007gf
    @007007gf2 жыл бұрын

    The museum's collection looked quite extensive. Mr Niiyama is a pleasant person. So much talent with the lathe. I have a pair of the boy/girl kokeshi from way back. Thanks John for the stream.

  • @aryogono6338
    @aryogono63382 жыл бұрын

    Hey John... Why not make this a content for your main channel? Seems like a perfect fit and that channel needs some love too. 😁

  • @JarmanInternational

    @JarmanInternational

    2 жыл бұрын

    I agree! I want to learn the history behind these dolls.

  • @Itami95
    @Itami952 жыл бұрын

    So so beautiful! My dream is to do a craft tour of Japan one day. The traditional crafts are both stunning and fascinating. Thankyou 😊

  • @RobbC.
    @RobbC.2 жыл бұрын

    So skilful. One false slip and that's hours of work wasted. Awesome to see these old traditions upheld. Great video John!

  • @TorToroPorco
    @TorToroPorco2 жыл бұрын

    Love this, a one man doll factory. Seeing Niiyama-san hand crafting the wood on his lathe was very gratifying. Having used a lathe before I can just imagine the smell of the wood. I want the squat blue one with the snowman on it!

  • @mcosgrove91010
    @mcosgrove910102 жыл бұрын

    I have a huge kokeshi collection but still have not made my way to Tohoku. This really makes me want to go there! Thank you for making this video!

  • @andiedance8263
    @andiedance82632 жыл бұрын

    steady hands creating beautiful crafted dolls. just little girls why no boys. the married couple good idea. the top for your darling boy Leo. I remember a friend had a Japanese doll under glass at her home, she was in a beautiful kimono just loved looking at her thank you again John

  • @kimiakiooyama6149
    @kimiakiooyama61492 жыл бұрын

    I have Betty Boop Kokeshi. That was made as souvenir for G.I to return home in 1950s.

  • @mdjcsmith
    @mdjcsmith2 жыл бұрын

    Sitting here in a +40° heat Christmas looking at this video is making me wish for an Antarctic breeze

  • @uoftotaku7
    @uoftotaku72 жыл бұрын

    That "elbow stand" thing he uses is so perfectly sized and shaped for his stance. I wonder how long he took to select that exact piece of wood to make it

  • @Marigen1971
    @Marigen19712 жыл бұрын

    I would love to go there and watch how kokeshi dolls are made 😍

  • @emmakahoe5233
    @emmakahoe52332 жыл бұрын

    Aloha from Hawaii 🌺 I thoroughly enjoyed watching this 🤙🏽 I would find it VERY interesting to literally see the different varieties of these Kokeshi dolls... I hope that you will be able to travel to the different prefectures/cities🙏🏽 & I hope that ONE day I will visit Japan to see and buy the different varieties of Kokeshi dolls. Question? When you put the different color paints, does it dry quickly because of the constant spinning 🤔 It's definitely a great experience to watch a true woodworker 💜 hopefully, he has someone to take over for him to keep his talent "alive". Please tell him that he is TRULY talented and give him many blessings 🙏🏽💯🤙🏽

  • @toressm
    @toressm2 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful store, Thank John and family. Also thank you Japan.

  • @faylehmann7343
    @faylehmann73432 жыл бұрын

    Loved this video of the Kokeshi doll factory. Lovely man and wonderful dolls. Could quite see these take off as a collector's item.

  • @uszatku9417
    @uszatku94172 жыл бұрын

    I love them - so beautifully painted.

  • @eetadakimasu
    @eetadakimasu2 жыл бұрын

    Very cool!

  • @jennifersantos3918
    @jennifersantos39182 жыл бұрын

    This makes me so happy! I saw my first Kokeshi dolls a couple of weeks ago. I had no idea that’s what they are called. They were in my mother-in-law’s room, and we discovered them just after she passed away last month. Her friend had made them for her. I didn’t know they were an actual thing with a cool story. Now, I can’t wait to let the others know what exactly they are. Thanks so much for sharing.

  • @JarmanInternational

    @JarmanInternational

    2 жыл бұрын

    what a wonderful piece of art to have from your mother-in-law. Precious!

  • @nadinegel
    @nadinegel2 жыл бұрын

    Wow 😮 thanks John‼️I ♥️ Kokeshi dolls. I have a few collection of those. He is very talented and creative guy. Arigatou for showing this to us. 😊👍👏👏👏👏👏

  • @carolynjose5504
    @carolynjose55042 жыл бұрын

    What an amazing history and talent! Thanks!

  • @MattHayashi
    @MattHayashi2 жыл бұрын

    So great! Thanks for showing John!

  • @astroboy3507
    @astroboy35072 жыл бұрын

    So professional he makes it look easy!!!! Was relaxing just watching him!!!! 👌🏼 Kinda reminds me of the Russian dolls!!! 🪆

  • @yesyoga
    @yesyoga3 ай бұрын

    Fascinating work! 🙏🏼

  • @brazilianguy17
    @brazilianguy172 жыл бұрын

    Love the new style of video ! Great perspective !

  • @shelaghrobertson8286
    @shelaghrobertson82862 жыл бұрын

    You mentioned the tiny mouth, that is a desirable quality in Japanese aesthetic. I remember a Japanese girl's song which mentioned wide open eyes and a tiny mouth on a doll, presumably Kokeshi 🎎

  • @Karma20XX
    @Karma20XX2 жыл бұрын

    I always wanted a Kokeshi doll.

  • @TheNails3
    @TheNails32 жыл бұрын

    Merry Christmas to you John, Kanae and sweetie Leo!

  • @anasibndawood6696
    @anasibndawood66962 жыл бұрын

    What a beautiful art. Always beautiful seeing a masterwork perfecting his craft… that goes for you as well John

  • @carmenpeters728
    @carmenpeters7282 жыл бұрын

    So nice of you to do this. Merry Christmas to you and yours

  • @jantravis4616
    @jantravis46162 жыл бұрын

    They are so beautiful much like the Russian nesting dolls. It's awesome to see and learn about these dolls. Arigato to Mr Niiyama

  • @VerhoevenSimon
    @VerhoevenSimon2 жыл бұрын

    That's amazing craftsmanship.

  • @andreimezjoukhin5414
    @andreimezjoukhin54142 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your as always positive livingin Japan.Happy Holidays to you and family!

  • @hktrading8485
    @hktrading84852 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic video.

  • @vincemckenzie5034
    @vincemckenzie50342 жыл бұрын

    Merry Christmas and happy New year to you and you family.💖

  • @RoCCo_CarmeLL
    @RoCCo_CarmeLL2 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting. Love this kinda videos. Like being there so real. Good picture quality of video also

  • @zakariamohamed7175
    @zakariamohamed71752 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful 😻💚

  • @mccribb
    @mccribb2 жыл бұрын

    This was awesome - JD, thanks for bringing us the cultural deep cuts of Nippon. Keep it comin’! 👀

  • @Janka007
    @Janka0072 жыл бұрын

    What a great video again! Actually I'm happy I'm not there because I wanted to have all of them! They are all so pretty and different, that's why I love handmade things. Kudos to Niiyama san! :)

  • @alamri20
    @alamri202 жыл бұрын

    This is pretty much an episode on Kokeshi...:)

  • @onlyinjapanGO

    @onlyinjapanGO

    2 жыл бұрын

    I had more questions :) more styles. I’ll have to learn more but I believe now I’m a collector!

  • @jantravis4616
    @jantravis46162 жыл бұрын

    Plus I would love to have one. There's lots of dogwood here in Oklahoma. I think. I'm glad you're enjoying your wooden toy. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

  • @andreimezjoukhin5414
    @andreimezjoukhin54142 жыл бұрын

    How expensive some of his doll's spirits! That's after all Russian Matroska come to Japanese wooden toy's. My surprise was that you manshen Mezuki, my last name Mezjoukhin, on French miss spell, but back in English sound more as Japanese "Water wood" 😂 this is surprise me, and I do love his work.

  • @Shiba_Inu_Des
    @Shiba_Inu_Des2 жыл бұрын

    My wife collected/accumulated a ton of these when we lived in Misawa

  • @user-bk8ll6ro2k
    @user-bk8ll6ro2k2 жыл бұрын

    I am SO happy you’re covering Kokeshi, John! I’m planning to teach a Kokeshi doll-making class for little ones out here in New Mexico!

  • @onlyinjapanGO

    @onlyinjapanGO

    2 жыл бұрын

    That’s great! It’s really a part of Japanese traditional culture. I love how they’re creative in a small space.

  • @PWBERRETT
    @PWBERRETT2 жыл бұрын

    Suggestion, maybe you could have this chap make up a special OIJ doll which we could buy. I would need an assurance that it is ok to import wood into Australia however. I believe that it may be possible if the wood is varnished in a particular way.

  • @onlyinjapanGO

    @onlyinjapanGO

    2 жыл бұрын

    Right, the wood is the issue but maybe when it is waxed like this, it turns it into a processed good. I know Australia is very strict for good reason with things like this. I’ll ask them if they’d consider taking orders and what limitations they have for it.

  • @etherdog
    @etherdog2 жыл бұрын

    The channel Yuya Japoness also has a focus on kokeshi and his latest vid was with a master in Saitama with a cool workshop.

  • @Graceofgod01
    @Graceofgod014 ай бұрын

    Waah.. in india also same craft is followed .. in MUGHAL SARAEY IN UP , INDIA .. # Dr.Kanchans desk

  • @Nazir-WalkAroundTheCity
    @Nazir-WalkAroundTheCity2 жыл бұрын

    👍✋Extra Good job 👌 Wow, Great view, I love to see new places 👍✌️ Great movie 👍 Bravo 👋 And I have a new movie from a walk around the city 😊 Yours sincerely, DJ Janusz from Warsaw Poland ✌️ 🇵🇱✋

  • @user-tg8zy6gq9e
    @user-tg8zy6gq9e3 ай бұрын

    Спасибо большое, правда жаль. что на англ.() Процесс сложный и захватывающий.👏 Японцы такое и любят.

  • @ML-fl2ye
    @ML-fl2ye2 жыл бұрын

    Leo-kun wa kare no atarashi no omocha wo suki desu to omou.

  • @trulyjourneys9379
    @trulyjourneys93792 жыл бұрын

    こけしだ

  • @JarmanInternational
    @JarmanInternational2 жыл бұрын

    His hand rest is soooo coooooolllll

  • @saratoga4126
    @saratoga41262 жыл бұрын

    Those dolls gave me PTSD from that horror Japanese movie featuring those dolls Kagome kagome

  • @JarmanInternational
    @JarmanInternational2 жыл бұрын

    this is so amazing. I have always wondered about these dolls. I have three at my house.

  • @JimmyGunawanX
    @JimmyGunawanX2 жыл бұрын

    hey Jon how did you have Picture in Picture like that while live streaming

  • @tastylemonade
    @tastylemonade2 жыл бұрын

    Let me build him a website.

  • @JarmanInternational

    @JarmanInternational

    2 жыл бұрын

    I think he needs one so people can buy the dolls online.

  • @JarmanInternational
    @JarmanInternational2 жыл бұрын

    I think I might order some for my friends.

  • @JarmanInternational
    @JarmanInternational2 жыл бұрын

    I would love to learn more about their history

  • @JarmanInternational
    @JarmanInternational2 жыл бұрын

    How do we buy these? I love it!

  • @onlyinjapanGO

    @onlyinjapanGO

    2 жыл бұрын

    I wish they had an online store connecting the local craftsman with customers around the world but not sure of any limitations on wood 🪵 products.

  • @jarihult
    @jarihult2 жыл бұрын

    Quite good craftman skills , that sure does needs skills ! He is so good that what he’s doing to making those dolls , very good premiere even though i missed this entirely , arigato anyway 👍!!!

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