About Sagara Ningyo (Sagara Doll)
Sagara Ningyo are wooden folk dolls from Sagara Village, Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture. Said to originate from local craftsmen carving wood into figures for religious ceremonies and festivals, utilizing the rich forest resources of the Kuma region. Characterized by rustic yet warm expressions and association with regional religious festivals and folk events. A folk craft born from mountain village life, one of Kumamoto's local crafts nurtured by the cultural soil of the Sagara domain.
Techniques & Materials
Craft terms are shown in the original Japanese — these are proper names with no standard English equivalents.
Techniques
木彫り彩色（一部）
Materials
地元木材（杉・檜等）顔料
Where to see & buy
Workshop names are in Japanese; links go to their official sites.
- 相良人形工房（産地にご確認ください）