A vintage Yajiro kokeshi from Jūkichi Hayashi (1920–1999). He was a skilled kokeshi artisan originally from Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. Born on May 13, 1920, he began woodturning at an early age under Ishii Miki, a local woodworker. After working in the weaving and wartime industries, he served in China during WWII and was demobilized in 1946.
Following the war, Hayashi entered the world of kokeshi-making, initially crafting sosaku (creative) kokeshi bases. In 1958, he established his own workshop in Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture. In 1977, under the mentorship of Denki Sato, he shifted to traditional kokeshi-making, learning painting and coloring techniques.
Hayashi remained active until the mid-1990s and passed away on October 30, 1999, leaving behind a legacy of craftsmanship rooted in both creativity and tradition.
