{"product_id":"kokeshi-doll-by-niiyama-minoru-togatta-kei-miyagi-prefecture","title":"Kokeshi Doll by Niiyama Minoru (Togatta-Kei, Miyagi Prefecture)","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"213\" data-end=\"676\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"213\" data-end=\"225\"\u003eThe Item\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"383\" data-end=\"840\"\u003eTurned from \u003cem data-start=\"395\" data-end=\"403\"\u003emizuki\u003c\/em\u003e (dogwood) wood and finished by hand, this \u003cem data-start=\"446\" data-end=\"455\"\u003ekokeshi\u003c\/em\u003e by \u003cstrong data-start=\"459\" data-end=\"477\"\u003eNiiyama Minoru\u003c\/strong\u003e exemplifies the quiet power of the Togatta lineage. Its sharply tapered form and deep black banding create a rhythm both architectural and human, minimal yet full of character. The painted \u003cem data-start=\"666\" data-end=\"674\"\u003emabuta\u003c\/em\u003e (eyelids) and pursed lips convey a serene, almost knowing expression, while the dark palette lends the piece a modern, sculptural gravity uncommon among its peers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"842\" data-end=\"990\"\u003eNo two kokeshi are identical and every mark is intentional. The contrast of black against the warm grain of wood evokes the elemental simplicity that defines Japanese folk design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"875\" data-end=\"1225\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"875\" data-end=\"888\"\u003eThe Designer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"875\" data-end=\"1225\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1017\" data-end=\"1042\"\u003eNiiyama Minoru (新山 實)\u003c\/strong\u003e is part of the \u003cem data-start=\"1058\" data-end=\"1067\"\u003eNiiyama\u003c\/em\u003e family line of \u003cem data-start=\"1083\" data-end=\"1092\"\u003ekokeshi\u003c\/em\u003e makers from \u003cstrong data-start=\"1105\" data-end=\"1122\"\u003eTogatta Onsen\u003c\/strong\u003e, Miyagi Prefecture—a lineage renowned for its purity of form and painterly restraint. His work reflects both fidelity to tradition and subtle experimentation: a dialogue between inheritance and individuality. Each doll carries the quiet imprint of Minoru’s hand, its imperfections adding to its vitality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1232\" data-end=\"1677\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1232\" data-end=\"1249\"\u003eThe Tradition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1460\" data-end=\"1859\"\u003eThe\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eTogatta-kei is the oldest among the six traditional \u003cem data-start=\"1520\" data-end=\"1529\"\u003ekokeshi\u003c\/em\u003e schools of the Tōhoku region, originating as souvenirs sold to travelers visiting the region’s volcanic hot springs during the late Edo period. Characterized by long, narrow bodies and finely painted linear motifs, the style is both humble and elegant—rooted in the rhythms of rural craftsmanship and the flow of mountain life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1684\" data-end=\"2081\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1684\" data-end=\"1699\"\u003eThe Culture\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1684\" data-end=\"2081\"\u003eIn Japan, \u003cem data-start=\"1712\" data-end=\"1721\"\u003ekokeshi\u003c\/em\u003e are often said to embody the spirit of \u003cem data-start=\"1761\" data-end=\"1772\"\u003eyasashisa\u003c\/em\u003e—gentleness, simplicity, and emotional warmth. Over time, they’ve come to represent both nostalgia for rural craftsmanship and the enduring beauty of imperfection. To hold one is to feel the intimacy of handwork, the rhythm of seasonal life, and the quiet persistence of a tradition kept alive through care.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Another Country","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47680614859003,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0747\/2064\/1275\/files\/Niiyama-Minoru.jpg?v=1762464093","url":"https:\/\/inanothercountry.co\/products\/kokeshi-doll-by-niiyama-minoru-togatta-kei-miyagi-prefecture","provider":"Another Country","version":"1.0","type":"link"}