Fukushima Prefecture Folk Toy Tsuchiyu-kei Nakanozawa Traditional Kokeshi (Tako-bozu) Size: (approx.) 13cm Lineage: Tsuchiyu-kei Artist: Seiya Shigeharu Teacher: Iwamoto Yoshizo Disciple: Seya Koji Notes: Please understand that this is a used item and may have some discoloration before purchasing. Please check the photos carefully, as returns and exchanges are not accepted after shipping. This kokeshi doll has a somewhat unusual face, with wide open eyes and red around them, and is affectionately known as "Tako-bozu" (Octopus Priest). The "Tako-bozu" kokeshi originated in Nakanozawa Onsen, Fukushima Prefecture, and its founder was Yoshikichi Iwamoto. Originally considered a sub-lineage of the Tsuchiyu-kei, it is now classified as Nakanozawa Kokeshi, having become independent. ◎ Artist: Seiya Shigeharu (1924-2004) Born in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture on February 24, 1924. In 1939, he became a disciple of Ichijiro Matsumura, a woodworker in Koriyama, and learned woodturning techniques. From 1943, he worked as a craftsman at the Shibuya Woodworking Workshop in Yanagimachi, Koriyama City. In 1944, he moved to Yokohama, was drafted, and entered the army. He was in North Korea when the war ended and was sent to Soviet Eastern Siberia, where he endured a difficult internment. He returned to Japan in July 1949. From September 1953, he worked as a craftsman at the Tamura Lumber Store in Hino-kuchi, Inawashiro-machi, Yama-gun, Fukushima Prefecture. Yoshizo Iwamoto also worked at this lumber store at the time, and he received guidance on kokeshi dolls from Yoshizo until November 1957. After that, he worked at woodturning shops in Kikuta, Koriyama City, Aizu-Wakamatsu, and other places. Eventually, he settled in Inawashiro-machi and began making kokeshi dolls in his workshop at home around 1969. In 1971, the "Tako-bozu Association" was formed, and in the following year, at the New Year's holidays, Yoshizo demonstrated his skills at department stores in Yokohama and Tokyo, and Shigeharu also participated in support. He received orders from the kokeshi shop "Tatsumi" in Tokyo Metropolitan Housekeeping, and worked on a systematic restoration of the Yoshikichi type. ◎ ⤵︎ Search terms below #TraditionalKokeshi #Takobozo #FolkToys #Tohoku #TsuchiyuKei #Crafts #FolkCrafts #Takobozo #SeiyaShigeharu #NakanozawaKokeshi PeasantArt FolkCrafts Mingei Woodcarving Woodcarving Fukukan (Lucky Bag) MUJI Kippa Ningyo (Wood Chip Dolls) Koppa Ningyo (Wood Chip Dolls) folktoy Konohana (Wood Flower) Tokuju Saito Masami Sakai Haruo Sanpei Choichiro Watanabe Yoichi Arakawa Yoshio Fukuchi Hiroshi Honda Fumio Kakizaki Nobuo Honda MUJI GINZA Atelier MUJI Ginza ATELIER MUJI GINZA ATELIER MUJI Gallery ATELIER MUJI