Every Shikoukai Japanese dolls are brought to life by master artisans using traditional crafting techniques, and wear Kodai-gire - beautiful pieces of antique Edo-era kimono cloth that are extremely rare, only available in very limited numbers, and to very limited people.
Their enthralling gazes and exquisite garments elegantly convey the true “spirit of Japan”.
Featured Dolls
New Lineup - Japanese Traditional Pouches
Not yet ready for our high-end dolls? Start enjoying Shikoukai's Kodai-gire art pieces with our new affordable lineup of "Kaishi-ire" Japanese Traditional Pouches.
Click on an item for more information.
Kodai-gire
Kodai-gire are cuts of Edo-era kimono garment.
Unlike garments of other ages, Edo-era kimono have distinct color and character. Not too bright like those of later times, but still gorgeously colorful and elaborate, each hand-sewn by masters of the era.
Not only are they wonderfully made, each piece of Kodai-gire have aged for hundreds of years, and the slightly faded colors, blending of the stitches, and even the occasional surface wear, add extraordinary aura and dignity to each piece. No craftsman, only time, can perfect an art to this level.
Through the sun and the cold, through the glory and the hardships, each Kodai-gire has lived through it all. It is Japanese history itself. And each newborn doll dressed in it tells a unique story of its lifetime.
Everything Handmade, Everything Unique
All dolls are handmade and inspired by Japanese traditions.
From the hands, feet, and head carved from the wood of a kiri(paulownia) tree to the breast pieces and costumes, everything is individually handmade by a single artisan.
Traditional Japanese Techniques
Starting with the theme, materials, crafting technique, and finishing touches, everything is done to the exceedingly high standards dictated by Japanese tradition.
The dolls are also crafted with a fusion of the artist’s modern-day inspiration.
By expressing new ideas through traditional methods—there is really nothing else quite like a Shikoukai doll.