It can be difficult to find information on kokeshi, especially in English. I want to share some resources that I have found to be helpful while learning about them. Make sure to check them out after seeing my About Kokeshi page.

BOOKS

KOKESHI, FROM TOHOKU WITH LOVE : Manami Okazaki

This book is written in English and focuses on traditional (dento) kokeshi. It is a fantastic resource for any kokeshi enthusiast or those just beginning to learn about them. The book includes descriptions of each of the 11 types of traditional kokeshi, interviews with the artisans, and stunning photography throughout. It also gives us a closer look into the culture of the Tohoku region as well as the onsen in that area. Much of the book is comprised of the interviews with traditional kokeshi masters. It is fascinating to hear the artisans’ personal stories as well as their thoughts on kokeshi creation and the history behind them. Author Manami Okazaki has written a number of interesting and informative books focusing on Japanese cultural topics. You can visit her website here.

KOKESHI: WOODEN TREASURES OF JAPAN : Michael Evans, Robert Wolf

This is another beautiful book on kokeshi that is available in English. It features both the traditional and creative kokeshi types, with thoughtful descriptions and explanations of each. The cover itself is a work of art using delicate washi paper. A good portion of the book is made up of images of kokeshi along with the matching artisans’ signatures, which can be helpful for identification. Sprinkled throughout, there is information about particular artisans as well as some of the symbolic themes seen in kokeshi design. I have not gotten my hands on it yet, but Michael Evans and Robert Wolf have come out with a second book entitled Kokeshi: A New Look At An Old Tradition that seems to focus on creative (sosaku) kokeshi. I am sure it is lovely! You can visit their website here.

KOKESHI BOOK : Cochae
KOKESHI BOOK―伝統こけしのデザイン : コチャエ

This is such a fun book on traditional kokeshi! It is only available in Japanese, but the images are pleasing to look at even if you do not understand the language. The kokeshi are photographed against colorful backgrounds, making this traditional craft appear quite modern and contemporary. The book examines the eleven types of traditional kokeshi with the majority of the pages focusing on current artisans’ work. We also get to see examples of the features common to each strain, such as the typical shapes and head patterns. The latter portion of the book looks at memorabilia as well as vintage kokeshi. This publication was made by the graphic design team Cochae (コチャエ). They have provided a fresh and modern take on the image of the kokeshi in recent years. Cochae has also come out with other kokeshi-related items, such as origami sets and furoshiki cloths. You can visit their website here.

KOKESHI JIDAI : Genki Numata
こけし時代 : 沼田元氣

Lastly, this is not technically a book, but a substantial magazine. It is only available in Japanese. The visuals are gorgeous, including images of kokeshi, workshops of the artisans, and onsen in the Tohoku region. Each issue focuses on a different strain of traditional kokeshi. It can be difficult to get your hands on older publications as only a certain number of issues are printed. However, you can sometimes find them being sold second-hand online. The magazine is produced by Genki Numata (沼田元氣) and there is a website for the magazine here.

VIDEOS

This video truly captures the magic behind creating a kokeshi. It features artisan Yasuo Okazaki (岡崎靖男) and shows the process of making a Naruko style kokeshi. At the end, you get to hear how a Naruko kokeshi squeaks when you turn its head! This video was made by 手とてとテ to promote the traditional crafts of the Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture) area.

I love the passionate energy and atmosphere in this video! We get to see how kokeshi masters of different strains create their work. Those featured are Togatta kokeshi artisan Kazuo Sato (佐藤一夫), Naruko kokeshi artisan Akihiro Sakurai (桜井昭寛), and Tsuchiyu kokeshi artisan Yukinori Jinnohara (陣野原幸紀). This video was made by Japanstore.jp.

WEBSITES

KOKESHI ADVENTURES:

This is a delightful blog that focuses on traditional kokeshi. The author, his wife, and two children go on “kokeshi adventures” where they explore the Tohoku region of Japan specifically for the purpose of seeing kokeshi and meeting the artisans. Some of the artisans’ workshops can be difficult to find, making it a special treat to get an insider’s look into their world. The blog also highlights the family’s visits to kokeshi museums and festivals within Tohoku. The author often shares pieces from their own collection as well as publications and memorabilia associated with kokeshi. This blog hasn’t been updated in a while likely because the family does not currently live in Japan. However, it is full of information and a joy to look back on!

Visit website here.

KOKESHI VILLAGE:

This site is a wonderful resource for identifying the signatures of your kokeshi. The website creator has obviously put a lot of effort into Kokeshi Village over the years and her passion for the topic really shows. You can learn about the different types of kokeshi as well the backgrounds of many of the artisans here. This is one of the few sites in English that I have been able to find that includes information about creative/sosaku kokeshi artisans. I am also tickled pink to recently discover that the owner has put together a digital magazine about kokeshi. You can find a link specifically to that here.

Visit website here.

L’ASIE EXOTIQUE:

The L’Asie Exotique website has posted an older but detailed article on traditional kokeshi. It provides information about each of the eleven strains of traditional kokeshi and the features that differentiate them from one another. Be sure look through all three pages that are available (it is easy to miss the link to the next page, which is in red on the bottom right corner of the first two pages).

Visit website here.

KOKESHI WIKI:

Yes, there is a Kokeshi Wikipedia of sorts! This is a great website to learn more about the traditional kokeshi artisans and their backgrounds. It is written in Japanese, but you can right click and translate the page to help you navigate your way around the site. To look for a specific artisan in the website’s search bar, you may need to find out what their name is written out in kanji characters in order for the search to work.

Visit website here.

Note: I am not affiliated with any of the businesses, websites, people, or products mentioned on this page.

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