The “Gosho doll” was a gift to the Imperial Palace. Also known as “Hai Hai” and “White Meat Dolls.(Goshoningyo)
The dolls were produced in Kyoto in the mid-Edo period as ornamental dolls, and are characterized by their white skin, large heads, and rounded bodies. They are characterized by their white skin, large heads, and rounded bodies. They are usually dressed naked, and wear a belly girdle or a straw robe (warawa-no-shi, a garment usually worn by underage court nobles). They often wear a belly girdle, a straw robe, or an eboshi (a hat worn by underage boys of the nobility). The name “hiragana” comes from the fact that hiragana were used as gifts for courtly celebrations, as gifts from the imperial family or court nobles to feudal lords, or as offerings to the imperial palace. They are also known as “hai hai,” “souvenir dolls,” “Ouchi dolls,” “white meat dolls,” “Izukura dolls,” and so on.
