This Japanese handmade wooden doll made by Yamagishi Masayoshi is a very rare and obscure find. It has recently been acquired from an old Japanese collector who lives in a village near Kyoto. She told us she bought it as a souvenir in Sado when she was young, more than 60 years ago. It depicts a very pretty young woman wearing a wonderful green kimono decorated with a fine bamboo motif. In the Japanese tradition, bamboo ( take – たけ) never losing its leaves, is a symbol of strength, tenacity and resistance because, even if it bends with the wind and the weather, it never breaks. The peculiarity of this splendid kokeshi is that the body was modeled in a bamboo trunk and then finely engraved and painted by hand. Most likely this kokeshi represents a depiction of Kaguya-hime, the protagonist of a popular tale considered the oldest example written in ancient Japanese and among the very first in which beings from outer space appear. Born from a bamboo plant, the little princess is adopted by an elderly couple and in a very short time she becomes so beautiful that she is immediately courted by important and powerful men, including the Emperor of Japan. Contrary to her traditional customs, Kaguya-hime will reject all her suitors by refusing to marry and even obey the emperor until her true origin is revealed and she returns to the Moon forever. ​This charming kokeshi is distinguished by the fine engraving work of the kimono and the elegant bow hairstyle. The facial expression is distinct and fascinating and the line is slim and tapered. It is a mesmerizing piece of Japanese craftsmanship and can be observed for hours. This Kokesi is in very good condition, with just minor traces of use. Dimensions: 25 x 8 x 8 cm. Weight: 200 grams. Please take a good look at the detailed pictures and imagine this beautiful doll in your collection! Shipping from NL, fast and insured delivery without import costs in the EU.