Traditional style Kokeshi dolls - Christmas colours

 

These super cute kokeshi (£15 per doll) are available on our Etsy shop TheKokeshiDollShop

Owls as lucky charms in Japan

Owl ornaments on sale at Japanya

Owls in Japan are considered lucky possibly because the word for owl, FUKURO ふくろう, is similar to the Japanese word for luck 福 pronounced FUKU. In addition, FUKU is associated with protection against bad luck (as in fukurou 不苦労 meaning “not having hardship/trouble”). 

                                                                                                                       

Vintage Kimono available on our Etsy shop

This fantastic furisode kimono would make a stunning wall display. Available on our etsy vintage kimono shop, JapaneseKimonoShop

Different types of Traditional Kokeshi

There are 11 types of traditional kokeshi named after the different hot spring areas where they are made (Tsugaru, Nanbu, Zao, Sakunami, Tsuchiyu, Hijori, Yajiro, Togatta, Naruko, Yamagata and Kijiyama).  Each type have distinctive styles with their own motifs, body styles, and facial features.  They are all highy collectable!    

Dating your vintage kokeshi doll

Be careful when reading the date written on a vintage kokeshi doll's base! If the doll is vintage this will generally have been written using the Japanse nengo calendar and not the Western Gregorian calendar. The Japanese nengo calendar uses years based on the reigns of the Japanese emporers. For example, Naruhito, the current emperor, started his reign (known as the Reiwa era*) in 2019 hence the year 2021 is known as Reiwa 3. His father Akihito started his reign in 1989 the year of the death of his own father (Hirohito) hence 1989 is known as Showa 64 or Heisei 1 and 1990 is known as Heisei 2.

* each emperor's reign /era is allocated a name the last three being Showa (Hirohito) Heisei (Akihito) and Reiwa (Naruhito)

Find knee-length kimono gowns at Japanya!

Some new gowns added to our selection of knee-length happi kimono 

 

Great ideas for Motivational / Inspirational Japanese Kanji Pendants

We can customise a Japanese Pendant for you.  Please make a request from our Etsy Orinique shop. Here are some pendants that we have made for customers recently:

"Believe in Yourself" - the Japanese is 自分を信じる which reads "jibun o shinjiru".

"Do your Best" - 最善を尽くす which means "do something to the best of one's ability"

"Follow your Dreams" - 夢を追い求めて which reads "yume o oimotomete"