This Sōsaku Kokeshi by Yamagishi Umeyoshi (山岸梅好) beautifully exemplifies the artist’s gentle humor and craftsmanship rooted in the mid-20th-century creative kokeshi movement. Her serene, smiling expression and subtly tilted head convey innocence and joy, a hallmark of Umeyoshi’s style. The body, finished in natural wood tones, features minimal engraved geometric patterns of the traditional rural garments, emphasizing texture over color.
The simplicity of the form, combined with the precision of the carving, creates a perfect balance between rustic charm and modern design sensibility. This minimalistic yet expressive aesthetic is a defining feature of postwar Sōsaku Kokeshi — where each doll is treated as a sculptural artwork, not merely a toy.
Yamagishi Umeyoshi was a creative Sōsaku Kokeshi artist active primarily during the Shōwa period (mid-20th century). Born in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture, a region deeply tied to the traditional kokeshi-making lineage, Yamagishi studied the techniques of woodturning and lacquer finishing before developing his own artistic language within the Sōsaku movement.
While information on his early life is limited, his works are known for their soft humor, structural innovation, and restrained decoration — blending elements of modern sculpture with the spirit of traditional folk craft. Many of his dolls feature natural wood tones, subtle engraving, and rounded, stylized forms that give his creations a distinctly gentle, human warmth.
