Japanese Vintage Kokeshi Doll Kaguya Hime Bamboo Design #5451

Please note that this item is made of wood.
Due to quarantine and biosecurity regulations, shipments to Australia and New Zealand may be subject to inspection or fumigation by local authorities, which may result in additional fees or delays.

height: approx. 25.5cm (10.04in)
weight: 322g
condition: small damaged

This Japanese vintage kokeshi doll is inspired by Kaguya Hime, a classic Japanese folktale associated with bamboo. The tall red body features bamboo-style motifs, reflecting traditional Japanese storytelling and folk art aesthetics. The gently closed eyes and rounded head create a calm, refined expression typical of traditional kokeshi dolls. This piece represents Japanese culture, folklore, and craftsmanship, making it ideal for collectors of vintage Japanese dolls, folk art, or authentic Japanese decorative items. A distinctive item for resale, interior display, or cultural collections, appealing to those searching for Japanese vintage kokeshi, Kaguya Hime dolls, or traditional Japanese crafts.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter)

First, an old bamboo cutter finds a tiny girl inside a glowing bamboo stalk.
Because she appears mysteriously, he believes she is a divine gift and raises her as his daughter, naming her Princess Kaguya.

As she grows, Kaguya becomes extraordinarily beautiful.
Therefore, many noblemen seek to marry her.
However, she does not wish to marry any of them, so she sets each suitor an impossible task to test their sincerity.

As a result, all of the suitors fail, either because the tasks are truly impossible or because they try to deceive her.

Meanwhile, news of her beauty reaches the Emperor.
Although he is deeply moved by her grace and intelligence, Kaguya refuses his proposal because she knows she cannot remain on Earth.

Eventually, Kaguya reveals the truth: she is from the Moon and must return there when the full moon rises.
When the time comes, celestial beings descend from the sky, and she prepares to leave.

Before she departs, she gives her parents a letter and an elixir of immortality.
However, the Emperor, out of grief, orders the elixir to be burned on the highest mountain, so that he will not live forever without her.

In this way, the story ends as a bittersweet tale about beauty, impermanence, and the sorrow of parting.