This is a vintage Togatta-style kokeshi by Shigekazu Sato (佐藤重一, 1936–), a second-generation craftsman from Aone Onsen in Miyagi Prefecture. Standing tall with a graceful silhouette, this kokeshi features a cheerful face with wide-set eyes and soft red detailing, complemented by traditional floral patterns on the body—rendered in a style that blends heritage with a mid-20th century souvenir aesthetic.
Shigekazu was born on September 7, 1936, as the eldest son of Mitsugu Sato, a local woodturner and souvenir shop owner. From 1955, Shigekazu trained under his father and began turning wood while still a student at Togatta Junior High School. After his father's passing in 1963, he continued operating the family souvenir shop located near Aone Onsen Station, while steadily producing kokeshi.
His father’s work reflected influences from Obara Naoji, but evolved into a more contemporary, tourist-friendly style—favoring rounder heads, cuter expressions, and simpler designs to appeal to a broader audience. Shigekazu carried on this approach, crafting kokeshi that, while rooted in the Togatta tradition, speak to the charm and accessibility of the postwar "onsen-miyage" (hot spring souvenir) boom.
