the country of the legend : japan

A strange phenomenon that occurs in the Mannenji temple, in Hokkaido. A doll with hair that grows, enclosing the spirit of little O-kiku chan.

Eikichi Suzuki, a Japanese born in the early 20th century, finds himself, during a business trip, in Tanuki-koji. It is a very well known shopping street in Sapporo. Passing a toy shop, he decides to bring his little sister O-kiko a 40cm doll, dressed in Kimono with very deep black eyes.

Little O-kiku, 2 years old at the time, is very happy to receive this doll as a gift. She plays with it every day and even makes her sleep in her bed.

Poor little o-kiku died of influenza on January 24, 1919.

Her parents, saddened by the death of the little girl, keep the doll and install it in their daughter's old room. They come to pray the doll every night, thinking that it allows them to communicate with their deceased daughter.

After a few months, the parents realize that the doll has hair growing. They deduce from this sign that the spirit of the little o-kiku is installed inside the doll.

20 years later, the Suzuki move and think it wise to place the doll in the Buddhist temple at Mannenji temple (Iwamizawa Hokkaido prefecture), which is near their home. The family takes care of cutting the hair relatively short before taking the doll, presenting it as their daughter to the monks of the temple.

Since this year, the monks pray the doll and cut his hair once a year.

A scientist came to study the doll a few years ago and his report was clear: The doll has human hair.