This shingata kokeshi is the work of Hitokura Masamichi (一倉正道), an artist known for his clean lines, gentle expressions, and gracefully elongated forms. Standing tall and slender, the doll presents a serene young girl whose softly rounded face is painted with a calm, contented smile. Her hair, rendered in smooth dark strokes, frames the face delicately, enhancing the peaceful character for which Hitokura’s works are admired.
The most captivating feature of this piece is the vertical cascade of chrysanthemums (菊) meticulously painted down the length of the body. The blossoms—layered in deep purples, warm reds, and accented with fresh greens—create a rhythmic, floral column that emphasizes the doll’s elegant silhouette. Each flower is painted with confident, expressive brushstrokes, a hallmark of Hitokura’s refined aesthetic.
Hitokura Masamichi was a mid-20th-century sōsaku / shingata kokeshi artist, active primarily from the 1960s to 1980s. His work appears occasionally in older exhibition catalogs and regional craft fair listings, but unlike major sōsaku masters (Sato Suigai, Takahashi Hashime, Aida Seiho, etc.), Hitokura was part of the smaller, independent circle of artists producing creative kokeshi for local tourist shops, regional craft markets, and department-store art events.
Size: 7 x 7 x 28.5cm
