This omiyage kokeshi is a handcrafted folk souvenir inspired by the coastal charm and cultural heritage of Imaihama (今井浜), a scenic hot spring and beach resort area on the Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture.
The kokeshi repersents「伊豆の踊り子」(Izu no Odoriko) — The Dancing Girl of Izu, paying homage both to local dance traditions and to the beloved novella by Nobel Prize-winning author Yasunari Kawabata, which is set in the Izu region.
The kokeshi features a painted hairstyle with floral accents, complete with a decorative rope and tassel, suggesting a festival dancer performing to the beat of traditional drums. The figure’s colorful outfit, with vivid green, red, and blue bands, adds to its celebratory character.
