Vintage Traditional Nakanosowa Takobozu Kokeshi by Master Fumio, Kakizaki (1947-)
Dimensions: 15-1/4” h
This is an exceptionally large and rare doll by this artist and represents a sub-strain of the Nakanosowa, a member of the Tsuchiyu family. However, it is so obviously different from the rest of this family that it warrants its "own" classification as a transitional doll (a doll that has aspects of the traditional Tsuchiyu doll and creative motifs incorporated into the body. Fumio, now 75 years of age studied under Masters, Takeo Takahashi, and Yoshizo Iwamoto. The doll is affectionately nicknamed “Take boze”, (which translates octopus) with a characteristically shaved and painted head. This stream of Kokeshi is inspired by a street dancer named Iwamoto Kenichi who performed a fast-tempo foot dance called a "Kappore" and conducted dancing lessons for local geisha girls.
The face was so distinctive that it was given its own identity. The face is the distinguishing feature that always incorporates the Bikkuri-me, (surprised eyes), with blushes around the eyes, and the Shishi-Bana, (lion’s nose), and a unique mouth. The elongated thin body incorporates the Rokuru Moyo horizontal lines framing realistic and abstract flowers on all sides of the doll. The dominant color is red, with some accents of green. It shows black concentric circles on the top of the head called Jano-me, together with a draped red bow loop on the sides of the temporal head (Kase). Even though this specific doll is based on a male street performed, one of the most unique features of this doll that the use of what is referred to as Yorisiro in which Buddhist women gathered their hair into a tuft, and wrapped it to drape down of the head. It was used as a Shinto “purity” symbol and meant to avoid the use of hair ornamentation ornamenting which was believed to encourage disrespect and a self-indulgent lifestyle. The doll is signed by the artist.
Condition: Excellent, outstandingly large, impressive, and beautiful. No chips, cracks, breaks, missing pieces, or restoration, and retains its original details with slight marks of aging. While considered a sub-strain of the Tsuchiyu Kokeshi, these beguiling dolls have a special attraction to collectors because of their history. The piece meets all the standards of the collectible Nakanosowa Traditional Dolls.
Japanese Traditional Kokeshi
Nakanosowa-Kei (Family)
Prefecture: Fukushima
Origin:
The Nakanosawa doll is a member of the Tsuchiyu family and one of the “youngest” of the twelve styles of Kokeshi. and recognized as a separate style in the mid-1920s, and so different from the rest of the Tsuchiyu family that it warrants its description and category. This distinctively painted traditional doll was created in Nakanosawa Onsen, in the town of Inawashiro, Fukushima Prefecture, by Iwamoto Zenkichi, one of the original founding members of the Tsuchiyu family. The facial expression shows humor that is representative of Iwamoto Kenichi, a street dancer (Sutorītodansā), in the 1920s, who performed a fast tempo foot dance called a "kappore fore”, Zenkichi-san then created a Kokeshi doll copied after a pillow that he used in this dance. The painted pillow had facial features as well as bold flower patterns. Additionally, Kenichi-san gave dancing lessons to local geisha girls, and his audience was soon so taken with his dance with the pillow that they asked for a doll to be made with these special features with the characteristically large popping eyes, and when the doll was originally made of papier maché.
Later, lathe-turned representations of dolls emerged as an expressive wooden and painted form. With Kenichi’s son, Yoshizou, and a group of craftsmen, the making of the Nakanosawa doll was alive and its popularity grew. While considered a sub-strain of the Tsuchiyu Kokeshi, these beguiling dolls have a special attraction to collectors because of their history. This specific type of Kokeshi is often described as male rather than female by Kokeshi enthusiasts, even though it was not specifically designed to be male. The doll later became known as "Tako bozu” (たこ坊主, bald boys), i.e., an octopus face with a shaven head, reminiscent of the hairstyle worn by monks.
Collector's note – characteristics / painting style:
The Nakanosowa doll was made like the rest of the traditional Kokeshi, with a large oval or rounded blocky head with reddish to pink blush on each cheek, on a thin, tapering body. The most characteristic element is the large, expressive, surprised-looking eyes (bikkuri-me). The dolls also have very different noses, with expressive Shishi-bata Lion’s nose and flared nostrils. Its mouth is fully open and accented in red. These dolls have bangs or side tufts and occasionally one long tuft of hair that has the purpose of being a perch for gods. This is based on what was known as the “Yorisiro” phenomenon, and it is a very important Shinto concept of “purity”, which was typical of practitioners of the Zen Buddhist faith. The body decoration of this strain typically consists of large open peonies inspired by the tattoos that the Geisha sported, or double cherry blossoms, incorporated with zig-zag (kaeshi rokuro) lines in multiple colors. The rarest form of this doll is an Ejiko-style called Izume.ko, Doll (“Isume baby”).
Leading Craftsmen:
Arakawa, Yoichi, 1936- No additional published information
Iwamoto, Zenkuchi, 1926, Grand Master- No additional published information
Iwamoto Yoshizo, 1912-1973, Grand Master- No additional published information
Kakizaki, Fumio, 1947- No additional published information
Fumio, Kakizaki, 1947, (Inawashiro, Fukushima) - Master: Iwamoto, Yoshizo
Honda, Nobuo - 1918-1995, No additional published information
Sato, Tokuju, 1926-2021, (Aizu-waka-matsu) - Master: Iwamoto, Yoshizo
Sabe Harou, 1929 -No additional published information
Saito, Tokuju, 1926-2021 - No additional published information
Seya, Kouji, 1952, (Nakanosawa) - Master: Iwamoto, Yoshio
Seya, Juji, 1924-2004, (Inawashiro, Fukushima) - Master: Iwamoto, Yoshizo
Takahashi, Yoshi, 1927, (Hino, Tokyo) - Master: Takahashi, Chuzo
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