Japan in the Summer Rain & Cute Tohoku Kokeshi Dolls

We look at rainy season in Japan and talk with our correspondent about the hydrangeas at Kamakura's Hase-dera. Our reporter travels to Naruko Onsen, Miyagi Prefecture, to discover the charms of kokeshi dolls. The kokeshi motif is noticeable everywhere. She watches the lathe turn as a kokeshi comes to life from a block of wood and tries her hand at painting a kokeshi. The dolls are ever evolving, and various souvenirs feature kokeshi designs. One kokeshi becomes a torch in case of emergencies.