Jan 12, 2021
Today’s Kokeshi - Watanabe Masao (渡辺正雄)
This is one of my favorite kokeshi artisans, and credited as one of the founders of the sokasu (creative) movement. He was born in Fukushima in 1917, and passed away in 2007.
He won the Prime Minister’s award in 1963 for this kokeshi, and again in 1971, along with many other awards. His work is also on display in the Nuremberg Toy Museum. This design is called chigozakura (cherry blossom child), and one was presented to each of the Beatles when they toured Japan in 1965.
Again I am drawn to the simplicity of the design, and the emotions in each of the kokeshi faces.