Okiagari Roly-poly Doll - Princess Kaguyahime

Kaguyahime, the Moonlight princess
According to the Tale of The Bamboo Cutter (10th century), once upon a time, there was an elderly couple who could not have children. One day, while he was cutting bamboo, the old man found a beautiful baby within a trunk. He and his wife called her Kaguyahime, the Shining Princess. From this moment on, the old man became extremely rich, because every time he cut bamboo, there was gold in it. Kaguyahime grew into an extremely beautiful woman, but she rejected all her suitors. She eventually revealed that she belonged to the people of the moon and that she had to go back there forever.

A Japanese Tradition
Okiagari-koboshi means “little monk who stands up”. These traditional Japanese roly-poly dolls are made from papier-mâché. They are designed to always return to an upright position, even if you try to tip them onto their side. Okiagaris were actually mentioned in 14th-century writings.

Symbolism
Okiagaris symbolise perseverance and determination in times of adversity. They are a reminder of the old Japanese proverb “Fall seven times, stand up eight”. According to tradition, a doll is given to each person in the family plus one, in the hope that a baby will be born during the year. During the Tokaichi or Tenth Day Market, customers drop a few dolls at a time, and the ones that remain standing are said to bring good fortune.