- The rustic charm of Junboku-style Kokeshi
- The"YamagatastyleKokeshi"beganwhenKobayashiKuraji,whoapprenticedunderamasterwoodturnerfromtheSendaidomainin1860,laterstartedthewoodcraftbusinessinthelodgingtownofYamagataAsitistheclosesttotheSakunamistyle,YamagataKokeshisharestraitssuchasasmall,insertedheadandaslender,taperingbody,makingiteasyforchildrentoholdTheheadisadornedwithredornaments,bobbedhairstyle,andsidelocks,whilethebodyispaintedwithplumorcherryblossomsLikeTogattastyleKokeshi,somefeaturea"splitnose"designontheface,contributingtotheirunpretentiouscharm
- Duetotheirnarrowbase,YamagataandSakunamiKokeshiwereonceknownas"Kokeshithatcan’tstandupright"AsKokeshitransitionedfromchildren'stoystodecorativecollectibles,theirbodiesbecamethickerYamagataCity,hometothisKokeshistyle,hoststheannual"MichinokuKokeshiFestival,"recognizedasoneofJapan’sthreemajorKokeshicompetitions,alongsidethe"AllJapanKokeshiCompetition"andthe"NationalKokeshiFestival"
*Kiji=Woodenvesselssuchasbowlsandtrays,beforetheyarepainted**Kijishi=Acraftsmanwhousesalathetoshapeandcreatewoodenitemssuchasbowlsandtrays
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