Fukushima Prefecture Folk Toy Tsuchiyu-kei Nakanozawa Traditional Kokeshi (Tako-bozu) Size: (approx.) 17cm Lineage: Tsuchiyu-kei Master: Yozo Iwamoto Craftsman: Yoichi Arakawa Notes: Please understand that this is a used item before purchasing. We do not accept returns or exchanges after shipping, so please confirm the photos. This kokeshi doll has a somewhat unusual face, affectionately nicknamed "Tako-bozu" (Octopus Priest), with wide-open eyes and red circles around them. The "Tako-bozu" kokeshi originated in Nakanozawa Onsen, Fukushima Prefecture, and was created by Zenkichi Iwamoto. Originally considered a sub-line of the Tsuchiyu-kei, it is now classified as Nakanozawa kokeshi, having separated and become independent. ◎Craftsman: Yoichi Arakawa Born on November 13, 1938, in Aizuwakamatsu City, as the eldest son of Seisaku Arakawa, a pioneer farmer. Later, his father went to Yokohama and worked at Nippon Kokan, and then moved near Izura in Ibaraki, where he worked on a sardine boat, so Yoichi also moved around with his father. In 1960, realizing that the future was uncertain in pioneering and charcoal making, he decided to change jobs and entered the Kamiyama Woodworking Factory in Aizuwakamatsu, where he learned woodturning from Noboru Kamiyama. Here, he mainly turned souvenirs, but the most produced item was the Hula Dance doll, a souvenir for the Joban Hawaiian Center, which opened in 1966. In 1970, he aimed to produce traditional kokeshi dolls and became a disciple of Yozo Iwamoto of Nakanozawa, and began to produce the Yozo type. In the New Year of 1972, Haruji Sato and Yozo Iwamoto had the opportunity to demonstrate their skills at the Tokyo Daimaru and Yokohama Takashimaya department stores, and Yoichi Arakawa also participated, performing demonstrations at the department stores. After returning home, he asked Yozo for permission to make the Zenkichi type, which he obtained, so he researched Zenkichi Iwamoto's kokeshi dolls and, at the suggestion of collector Yusuke Tsuzuki, reproduced the collection of Takeo Takei, which was published in the "Kokeshi Aizo Zufu" (Kokeshi Collection Illustrated Book). In 1973, his master, Yozo Iwamoto, passed away. After that, In 1975, he produced the Chiyogoro Ogura type and the Jinkuro type at the request of Akio Ueki. In 1976, at the recommendation of Tokio Shikama, he reproduced the Ichi Ujiie type and the Tomomi Matsuki type of Sukagawa. In 1985, he also reproduced the Naoyuki Isoya type on the occasion of the publication of "Aigan Koraku" by Kodo Suzuki. ◎⤵︎Search Terms #TraditionalKokeshi #TakoBozu #FolkToys #TsuchiyuKei #Crafts #FolkCrafts #TakoBozu #YoichiArakawa #NakanozawaKeiKokeshi Peasant Art Folk Craft Mingei Wood Carving Wood Carving Fuku-kan (Lucky Can) MUJI Kippa Ningyo (Wood Chip Doll) Koppa Ningyo (Wood Chip Doll) folktoy Kinohana (Wooden Flower) Tokuju Saito Masasumi Sakai Haruo Sanpei Choichiro Watanabe Yoshio Fukuchi Hiroshi Honda Fumio Kakizaki Nobuo Honda Shigeharu Seya