A vintage Yajirō Kokeshi by Koichi Kamata (鎌田孝市), a respected kokeshi artisan from Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture, one of the important centres of the Yajirō tradition.
This elegant doll features a large rounded head with a serene hand-painted expression, softly arched brows, narrow smiling eyes, and a delicate red mouth that gives it a warm and composed personality.
Its tall cylindrical body is adorned with a rhythmic repeated motif and fine linear striping, characteristic of the refined decorative sensibility found in Yajirō kokeshi. The balanced proportions, crisp brushwork, and understated colour scheme give the piece a particularly sophisticated presence.
Koichi Kamata was born on February 10, 1925, in Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture, as the eldest son of Bunichi Kamata, himself a kokeshi craftsman. He began learning woodturning from his father around 1939 and started making kokeshi from a young age.
After wartime service, he returned to woodworking and continued producing kokeshi steadily from his home workshop in Shiroishi. Over the decades, he became a central figure in the Kamata family lineage, helping preserve and continue the Yajirō tradition. From the late 1960s onward, his wife Umeko, daughter Etsuko, and later his son Takashi also became involved in kokeshi making, making it a true family workshop tradition.
Koichi Kamata passed away in 2004, leaving behind an important legacy within post-war Yajirō kokeshi craftsmanship.
Size: 8 x 8 x 30cm
