This Sōsaku Kokeshi titled “菊わらべ” (Kiku Warabe – Chrysanthemum Child) is a delightful creation by Ishihara Hideo (石原日出男), a contemporary kokeshi artist known for his warm, minimalist style and playful interpretations of traditional forms.
Standing with rounded proportions and softly curved limbs, this doll embodies innocence and serenity. Its simple, childlike face — marked by delicate painted eyes and a small red mouth — evokes a sense of purity and quiet joy. The artist’s distinctive balance between folk tradition and modern design gives the figure a timeless appeal.
The natural wood grain of the body is accented with fine dragonfly (蜻蛉, tonbo) motifs in red and black, gracefully scattered across the surface. In Japanese culture, dragonflies are revered as symbols of courage, victory, and perseverance — and are often associated with late summer and early autumn, much like the chrysanthemum (kiku) referenced in the title. Together, they evoke a poetic image of seasonal beauty and resilience.
Ishihara’s craftsmanship highlights the warmth of the wood itself — the smooth finish and subtle tonal variations allowing the material’s natural charm to shine through. His work often bridges the spirit of warabe-gata (child-style) kokeshi with the refined sensibility of sōsaku artistry, resulting in pieces that are both nostalgic and modern.
“Kiku Warabe” is a celebration of gentle simplicity — a piece that captures the fleeting beauty of nature and the enduring innocence of childhood, rendered in Ishihara Hideo’s unmistakable, heartfelt style.
