Did you know?: Okinawan kokeshi dolls

(Stripes Japan)

Okinawa has its own kokeshi dolls. “Ryukyu Miyarabi Kokeshi,” are Okinawan versions of the popular wooden dolls. While many traditional kokeshi dolls have a cylindrical torso with a big head, Ryukyu Miyarabi Kokeshi has a sweeping profile with a small head on top. These Okinawan kokeshi dolls are manufactured at a studio run by Taiki Okinawa, a facility for disabled persons on the island. They were commonly called “sayonara dolls” because they were popular souvenirs.