This pair of kappa-themed kokeshi dolls brings a playful fusion of folklore and traditional games, cleverly shaped like shōgi no koma (将棋の駒) the wooden pieces used in Japanese chess.
Each figure is carved in the angular form of a shōgi tile, complete with stylized calligraphy on the front. The faces, however, are unmistakably those of kappa (河童) mischievous water spirits from Japanese folklore — complete with wide eyes, beak-like noses, and the signature saucer-shaped dish of water on their heads, painted in a soft blue.
王将 (おうしょう, Ōshō) means “King General” in Shogi. It is the most important piece in the game, equivalent to the King in Western chess. This Shogi Kokeshi set is a rare and whimsical piece that beautifully blends Japanese board game tradition and folk art.
Sold as a local souvenir or as a novelty folk craft, this pair would appeal to collectors of quirky kokeshi or lovers of yokai (Japanese spirits).
