Japanese Kokeshi Dolls

Cute and adorable.  Kokeshi dolls are handcrafted collectible Japanese folk art wooden dolls originally from Northern Japan.  

Japanese Owls

The significance of Owls

In Japan, owls are symbols of happiness and good luck. The Japanese for "owl" is "fukurou", the Japanese for "hardship" is "kurou", and the Japanese for "not" is "fu". "fukurou" thus implies a life without hardship. Owl symbols are often given to Japanese couples on marriage, because of the bird's auspicious association.