This 16 inch tall doll dressed in a pink kimono was purchased by the 17 year old big brother of 2 year old Okiku in 1918. One year after he purchased the doll for his sister, she died of a deathly cold. The family put the doll in the home altar and called the doll Okiku in honour of their daughter. Some time later, the family noticed that the dolls hair was growing, as sign that their daughters soul had taken up residence in the doll. When the family moved from town, they gave the doll to the Mannenji temple where it continues to live today. Every year, the dolls hair has to be trimmed and pictures of the doll with different length hair have popped up. A study was done on a supposed clipping of the dolls hair that determined it was from a small child. It cannot be confirmed if the clipping was truly from Okiku.
