This charming handcrafted Kimekomi Ningyō features a boar (inoshishi) motif, richly adorned with traditional Japanese textiles and meticulous detailing.
Kimekomi Ningyō are traditional Japanese dolls distinguished by their unique construction method: "kimekomi" literally means “to tuck into grooves.” The dolls are made by carving shallow grooves into a base (traditionally wood, now often a composite material like toso), and then tucking in pieces of colorful cloth to form the doll’s clothing.
The boar, or inoshishi (猪) in Japanese culture, is a symbol of bravery, protection, and determination. It is also one of the twelve animals of the Japanese zodiac (eto), representing those born in the Year of the Boar. This figure is often displayed as a talisman to ward off evil and invite good fortune.
Dressed in textured fabric resembling the boar’s fur, and topped with an auspicious red and gold cushion, the piece also carries a tag reading: 開運招福 (Kaiun Shōfuku) — “Bringing Luck and Inviting Fortune.”
