This is a vintage Nanbu-style kokeshi by Takao Sakashita (坂下隆男, 1944–2014), a craftsman from Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture. Measuring 18cm in height, this piece features the classic Nanbu silhouette—gently tapered with a rounded head—and a cheerful, expressive face framed by bold, black hairlines and arched brows. The doll wears a deep red collar pattern accented with delicate scalloped details, a hallmark of the Nanbu aesthetic.
Takao Sakashita began his woodworking journey in the early 1960s at Kimizuka Woodworking in Hanamaki City, where he first trained in carving wood for lacquerware. Influenced by local kokeshi masters like Eikichi and Tadao Sato, and later by Kazuo Sato, he developed a deep appreciation for traditional kokeshi. Although his career began outside the doll-making world, Sakashita's artistry was shaped by both family heritage and regional tradition, resulting in warm, well-balanced works like this one.
He passed away on December 30, 2014, at the age of 71. Not wanting to let the tradition die out, his wife Mitsuko and eldest son Ryuichi visited Tayama Kazufumi in November 2018 and agreed that Tayama would inherit and produce the Sakashita style.
