Sasaki Katsumi (佐々木 克己／佐々木 克巳) based in Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture (a center of “shingata”/creative kokeshi). He began learning woodturning and painting there in 1948, then established his own workshop.
He founded what’s now Sasaki Kokeshi Studio (佐々木こけし工房). Today it’s run by the 2nd generation, Sasaki Isao (佐々木 功), with his wife Miho; the studio continues to specialize in shingata (creative) kokeshi. (The studio’s own page refers to the founder as 佐々木克巳—you’ll see both 克己/克巳 spellings in the wild.)
Creative/Shingata (sōsaku) kokeshi: slim cylindrical bodies, often with incised or painted floral motifs (especially plum blossoms), and occasional exposed patches of natural wood in the body. Larger works (30–45 cm) are common. His pieces are usually signed on the base (kanji signature) and may have a workshop label.
