TOKUTARO-SAN

[Japanese] A life-size Japanese boy-doll, a child of two years. There is also a girl-doll, called Otoku-San. It is believed that these dolls are alive. Although they cannot talk, the can cry and run away when the house in which they live is on fire. When cared for properly, they bring good luck to 'their' family. They need to be dressed in new clothes regularly and kept in good repair. Treated thus, they may survive the passing of many generations, and cause babies to be born in good health. When they are neglected, however, they will be cross and bring misfortune. When a doll is old, worn, broken and finally declared 'dead', it is laid to rest under an enoki tree (see also Kojin).