“The moon during the Bon festival” Formed with toso over wooden core and covered with paper

Tōso dolls

Tōso dolls (tōso ningyō) are made of a modeling compound called tōso (a mixture of paulownia sawdust and paste) attached to a core of solid paulownia. Tōso can be freely fashioned while soft to produce all manner of forms. The molded forms are thoroughly dried before use to ensure that they won’t warp.