A Togatta-style kokeshi by Ryosuke Saito, featuring a classic form with refined hand-painted details. The doll’s face exudes charm with its narrow eyes and gentle smile, framed by thick black side hair and a crown of red petal motifs atop the head. The cylindrical body is lightly adorned with small red floral motifs, rendered with subtle, delicate strokes that echo the quiet elegance of traditional Togatta craftsmanship.
The simplicity and warmth of the natural wood grain add a rustic authenticity, while the softly faded pigments reflect the doll’s vintage character and age. This piece exemplifies Saito’s understated style, unpretentious and honest, with a deep sense of regional tradition.
Ryosuke Saito was born on June 12, 1925, in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture. After working through wartime and postwar hardship, he married Yaeko, the daughter of renowned kokeshi artisan Sato Yoshiya, in 1952 and relocated to Togatta, one of the six main traditional kokeshi-producing areas.
Initially trained on a foot-operated wheel, Saito began producing bases for kokeshi and later shifted into painting and coloring dolls under the guidance of Yoshiya. From 1958, he became fully involved in traditional kokeshi-making, eventually taking over the workshop and store after Yoshiya’s death.
He continued crafting kokeshi with his wife until around 2007, and later moved to Kanazawa. He passed away on April 25, 2015, at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of humble yet skillful craftsmanship that faithfully carried the Togatta tradition forward.
Size: 5 x 5 x 18cm
