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Here I will provide a history of Japanese doll making from its earliest roots to the modern dolls we see today. I hope to include time frames, descriptions, and hopefully pictures. Eventually I would like this database to include a history of doll making in other parts of Asia as well as the rest of the world.

Japan has a long history of doll making.

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These are dolls depicting the emperor, empress, court attendants, musicians of the Heian court. They are fashioned with the traditional hairstyles and garments of that era. They are displayed on Girls Day , March third, which is also known as Dolls Day or Hina Matsuri. Usually a platform is used to display the dolls with the emperor and empress on the top tier of the platform, court ladies on the second tier, male musicians on the third tier, ministers on the fourth tier, three samurai on the fifth tier, items that would be used inside the palace are on the sixth tier, and items that are used outside or away from the palace are placed on the seventh tier.

 

Hina dolls on display in Little Tokyo, 2010.

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Kokeshi dolls are are made of wood with characteristic large heads whose facial features are painted on rather than carved into the wood. These dolls are crafted without arms or legs. Various woods may be used. Cherry wood provides a dark color. Dogwood is often used as it is a soft wood.

These dolls originate from northern Japan. They are thought to have first appeared during the Edo period (1603-1868) as items that were sold to visitors of hot springs.

Creative Kokeshi emerged after WWII. This style allowed the doll artist to create without any creative restrictions and are popular as well.


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These dolls are carved of willow wood and decorated with small pieces or scraps of fabric. Grooves are carved into the wood and the fabric is tucked into them. Their hands and faces are crafted of gofun and styled wigs are used for their hair.

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This is a representation of a Buddhist monk who meditated so intensely that he lost his arms and legs. Thus, this doll is spherical with a red body with no arms and are made with pupil-less eyes. The owner of the doll fills in one eye when a wish is made and once the wish comes true, the other eye is filled in.

These dolls depict small children

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These are warrior dolls. They are constructed in the same manner as hina dolls. Often they are depicted in specific poses related to battle, such as on a horse, sitting at a campsite, or yielding a weapon. Male and female characters can be depicted.

Translated as "old imperial palace," these dolls were given as gifts during the Heian period. These are very simple chubby babies.

Also known as Licca-chan, these are dress up dolls similar to Barbie that were first marketed in 1964. Unlike Barbie dolls, Licca dolls have Japanese facial and body features.

Ball joint dolls composed of ceramic porcelain and wood have been crafted for hundreds of years. However, due to the materials used to create these dolls, customization was difficult.

The first BJD cast out of resin was first sculpted in Japan by a sculptor for the famed sculpting group Zoukei Mura. Akihiru Enku created the doll for his wife as a wedding anniversary gift. Upon seeing this unique doll, Mrs. Shigeta, the wife of company president Hideyuki Shigeta believed that the new type of doll would be very popular.

That doll eventually became the first BJD to reach the market. Known today as the four sisters or F-01 mold, this doll was first marketed in 1999 by the Japanese company Volks. Originally it was marketed as four distinct dolls with different features painted onto the face and each with unique eyes and wig. Today it is sold as the Sara, Nana, Megu, and F-01 molds.

 

Today, there are dozens of companies in Japan, Korea, China, and the United States that produce these dolls.

References:

1. Super Dollfie Ten Year Anniversary