Imani todomeshi ukiyo no sugata (The image of the floating world that remains today)

As the production skills of hina dolls become more sophisticated, isho ningyo (costumed dolls) were created for the purpose of appreciation as works of art. From kabuki actors to yujo (prostitutes) and wakashu (young men), the costumed dolls feature a wide variety of subjects, all full of life and dressed in sumptuous kimonos.

In addition to this, dolls made of wood also became highly developed. Many masterpieces are still preserved today, such as the extremely colorful Saga and Nara dolls, and Kamo dolls made with use of the kimekomi technique, retaining the original appeal of the materials. In particular, gosho ningyo, dolls which imitate plump and adorable young children, were beloved by the upper classes such as the nobility and feudal lords, representing a highly artistic expression of Japanese doll culture.