Our Ways

Characteristics of Shikoukai Dolls

When making dolls, classics from Japanese culture, specifically fairy tales, seasonal festivals, court dancing, noh theater plays, and folklore all play a big part in providing inspiration. Each doll is handmade and completely unique.

Another characteristic of our wooden dolls is that by carving them by hand the artist is able to portray the exact emotions they want to achieve. Without being restricted by templates or pre-designs, they are able to play around with the expressions they bestow to their dolls.

For example, an artisan can choose to not make their doll’s kimono in parts like usual but sew it as a single piece. This is similar to a normal human one but made with a more generous cut. This creates a closer bond with the doll—giving them a more human feel with a natural, and relaxed appearance.

There are no official teaching materials at Shikoukai—we allow artists to be taken by their inspiration and create unique dolls from their own ideas.

In order to do this, once the artist has decided on what they want to make, they go into a stage of research. This helps them expand and solidify the design they will go for. Then, they determine what techniques or manufacturing methods will be required, and of course, they pick their materials too. Once all this has come together, it’s a matter of making and remaking until they are finally satisfied with their final product.

It goes without saying that no two products are the same. Each doll has their own unique existence. We hope for anyone who meets one of our dolls that they can create a lifelong friendship.

Our Commitment

To adhere to the prestigious traditional Japanese crafting techniques used at Skikoukai, only natural materials are selected. These are materials like solid gold, gold paint, chalk, and mineral pigments, which are all also used in traditional Japanese paintings as well.

Materials & Methods

The primary material used at Shikoukai is a wood called “kiri (paulownia).” One single piece of kiri is split into smaller pieces, which is used to craft the face and hands. Typically, the dolls are finished with chalk, however, there are times when they are painted in color or are covered with painted paper as well. The chalk used to make a doll’s skin white is made from a diluted mixture of crushed seashells which is then painted on.

Coloring methods differ from either painting color directly to the doll, or by first sticking on washi [Japanese paper] before applying color.

A lacquer finish is applied to most of the doll pedestals. There are pedestals that only have a lacquer finish and there are some which use a mother-of-pearl inlay over the lacquer—it all depends on what best suits each doll.

The material for the mother-of-pearl inlay is nacre which is found inside the inner shell layer of seashells. This is then set into the surface of the lacquer to create this inlay effect.

While it is a rarity, there are some pedestals that have not been given any lacquers, and simply flaunt the brilliance of the natural wood grain.

Storage & Care

Shikoukai dolls are adorned with Kodai-gire which is extremely old and are all made completely by hand making them very delicate. Please be careful of the following things when you are handling them.

The dolls’ faces and lacquered pedestals are particularly weak to even very small amounts of sweat and oil produced by human hands. We advise that you try to not ever touch them with your bare hands and instead use cloth gloves etc.

We also request that whenever you decide to put your doll away that you use the kiri wood box provided along with insect repellent.

Dolls also do not like environments that are either too humid or too dry. A humidity level of between 55-77% is ideal.