Kimekomi Dolls is one of traditional Japanese craft that has over 260 years old. The first dolls were made by Takahashi Tadashige for Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto.

Tanabe
"Delight of making dolls, pleasure of decorating dolls."

Tanabe has over thousands of Kimono Fabrics, and about hundred kinds of bodies for Kimekomi Dolls. They also have a glass cases, folding screen, Tatami mattress for the dolls. One of the popular Kimekomi Dolls is the Oriental Zodiac, "Eto." Tanabe prepares the doll of the next year so that you can have them for next year's gift. Also, Tanabe has not only traditional designs such as Hina Dolls, Gogatsu Dolls, but also it has modern design dolls, such as dolls, snowman, flogs, ladybugs, elephants and other western style designing.

Tanabe also sales the complete dolls. It will take a week to 10 business days for them to finish making.

Tools for making Kimekomi Dolls
Glue, made from potato starch.
Paddle.
Special scissors.
Wood chips.
Sandpaper.

The process of Making Kimekomi Dolls
1. polishing dolls by sandpapers.
2. add glue in slots of a part.
3. put Kimono fabric on a part.
4. push the fabric into slots by paddle and draw the figure of a part.
5. cut fabric by the figure of the part.
6. push all extra piece of fabric into the slot.
7. move to next part.

Fun of Making Kimekomi Dolls
If you have all tools and extra fabrics, you can just buy body and apply your fabric to design your own Kimekomi Dolls.

For making dolls at Tanabe
The assistants will help you making dolls when they are not helping other customers. It will be better to visit Tanabe after 3 p.m. Please bring your own tools to make a doll.

Official Web

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