43 careful processes

The process of the creation of Karl is a meticulous one. Firstly, the wood that will become the head and body of the kokeshi is cut to size. Then the pieces are molded, sanded, and polished making the wood smooth. Next, to visualize the little character the polished wood is spray-painted and hand-painted. Small decal prints are then carefully applied. The head and body are assembled, and all dolls go through quality inspection before being packed in gift boxes. In total there are 43 processes in place to create one iconic Karl.