A vintage Tōgatta Kokeshi by Tadashi Sato (佐藤忠), a traditional kokeshi artisan from Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
This elegant wooden doll features a large, rounded head with delicately painted black hair, expressive arched eyebrows, gentle eyes, and a tiny red mouth. Its slender cylindrical body is decorated with five beautifully arranged red chrysanthemum motifs (菊模様), creating a harmonious and rhythmic floral pattern.
The warm natural wood, softly faded crimson pigments, and graceful brushwork reflect the timeless beauty of the traditional Tōgatta kokeshi style. Its understated simplicity and peaceful expression give the piece a particularly charming character.
Tadashi born on April 14, 1932, in Aone Onsen, Kawasaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Tadashi Sato dedicated much of his life to preserving the traditional craftsmanship of Tōgatta kokeshi.
In 2016, he welcomed Rika Komatsu (小松里佳) as his apprentice through the Kokeshi Craftsman Training Program, passing on his knowledge of traditional woodturning and decorative painting.
In 2020, Sato retired from woodturning due to his advanced age and entrusted his tools to Komatsu. She subsequently established her workshop in the former Kitaoka factory in Tōgatta, continuing the craft using the equipment inherited from her teacher.
Size: 10 x 10 x 38cm
