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 known as "Tako-bozu" (octopus monk), 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-lineage of the Tsuchiyu-kei, it is now classified as Nakanozawa kokeshi after becoming independent. ◎Craftsman: Yoichi Arakawa (1938-) 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 Itsura in Ibaraki and worked on a sardine boat, so Yoichi also followed his father and moved around various places. In 1960, realizing that there was no future 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 of 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 Tokyo Daimaru and Yokohama Takashimaya, and Yoichi Arakawa also participated in this and performed demonstrations at department stores. After returning home, he asked Yozo for permission to produce the Zenkichi type, and he obtained approval, so he researched the kokeshi dolls of Zenkichi Iwamoto and, at the suggestion of collector Yusuke Tsuzuki, restored the collection of Takeo Takei, which was published in "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 restored the Iichi Ujiie type and the Tomomi Matsuki of Sukagawa. In 1985, he also restored the Naoyuki Isoya type on the occasion of the publication of "Aigan Koraku" by Kodo Suzuki. ◎⤵︎Search Terms #Traditional Kokeshi #Tako-bozu #Folk Toys #Tsuchiyu-kei #Crafts #Folk Art #Tako-bozu #Yoichi Arakawa #Nakanozawa-kei Kokeshi Peasant Art Folk Art Mingei Wood Carving Wood Carving Fuku-kan (Lucky Can) MUJI Koppa Ningyo (Wood Chip Doll) Koppa Ningyo (Wood Chip Doll) folktoy Konohana (Flower of Wood) Tokuju Saito Masasumi Sakai Haruo Sambe Choichiro Watanabe Yoshio Fukuchi Hiroshi Honda Fumio Kakizaki Nobuo Honda Shigeharu Seya