This charming Yajirō-style kokeshi from 1977 originates from the Kamasaki Onsen area in Miyagi Prefecture, a region historically intertwined with the development of this distinct kokeshi tradition. Measuring approximately 9cm, the doll features soft, feminine lines, with a rounded form and delicate hand-painted details in black and red. The design includes rokuro-sen (lathe lines) circling both the head and body, along with stylized collar and sleeve patterns—hallmarks of the Yajirō lineage that resemble the layering of a kimono.
Yajirō kokeshi, one of the twelve traditional kokeshi lineages, developed during the mid-Edo to late Edo period when the number of therapeutic bathers at Kamasaki Onsen began to increase. During this time, women from the Yajirō village would shoulder baskets filled with woodenware—such as bowls, trays, and kokeshi dolls—and sell them directly to the visiting spa-goers. This became known as Kamasaki akinai (Kamasaki peddling), a vital part of the region's economic and cultural fabric.
In recognition of its cultural value, Yajirō-style kokeshi were designated as a National Traditional Craft of Japan in 1981 under the broader category of Miyagi Traditional Kokeshi.
