The Hōko‑san doll is a papier-mâché talisman doll historically associated with Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture (Shikoku region), believed to have healing and protective powers. According to folklore, Omaki, a devoted handmaid, absorbed a princess’s incurable disease and absolved her—becoming a symbol of selfless protection. The Hōko‑san doll is said to absorb illness when held by a sick child, or even be set afloat afterward (float-away custom) to carry away illness from the household. The Hōko‑san doll is a Papier-mâché construction, painted red (color believed to chase disease), with simple facial features and hair made of synthetic or organic material.