Nara itobori are figurines that are hand-carved from wood and then painted. Itobori is said to have originated about 890 years ago, toward the end of the Heian period, as festival decorations at Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Because the decorations were intended for display in religious ceremonies, simple designs were typically used. While traditional itobori methods have been preserved over time, the forms created have changed. In the Edo period, craftsmen began using itobori methods to make ornamental and festival dolls, and these pieces became beloved by the general public as works of art. Today many people see Nara itobori as one of Japan's most representative traditional crafts.