Aoki Ryoka (青木蓼華) was born in Gunma prefecture in 1931. Her real name is Toshiko. "Ryo" of her pseudonym was taken from the name of her teacher Mr. Ryoshu Nozawa who is a painter of Japanese-style pictures. In 1958, she started the work of Creative Kokeshi. Eight pieces of her works were bought by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess in 1975 and 1983. The prize winner in 1975; of the Minister of Education for "Hana Tenshi". In 1977 she won the Japan-Taiwan Cultural Exchange Prize. In 1980 and 1981 she received the Prize of Minister of International Trade and Industry. In 1981 the Prize of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Fishery. Member of the Nippon Kokeshi Artistic Handicraft Association. Eight of her dolls were added to the collection of the Crown Prince and Princess of Japan in 1975 and 1983, respectively.
