Company name: USABURO KOKESHI

Founded: 1902

Headquarters: Shinto, Gumma Prefecture, Japan

Main activity: Doll maker

Company Description :

The founder of Usaburo Kokeshi, born in the Shinto village of Gunma Prefecture in 1919, left a significant legacy in the world of crafts. After initially working with artificial stones and metals, he turned to creating kokeshi dolls in 1954. A pioneer in his field, he introduced expressive techniques such as sculpture and pyrography, giving a three-dimensional dimension to the dolls, thus establishing the prototype for the famous Usaburo Kokeshi dolls that continue to this day.

Usaburo has dedicated constant efforts to research, developing methods to prevent cracks in wood. He managed to incorporate wood formerly considered unsuitable for processing into the making of kokeshi dolls. His masterpiece, “Kantsubaki,” showcasing the magnificent “Zelkova” wood and adorned with his favorite camellia flowers, was honored with purchase by the Showa Emperor.

Since the establishment of a mass production system combining manual labor and machinery in 1971, Usaburo Kokeshi has become a preeminent workshop, possessing the largest volume of kokeshi doll production in Japan. The founder's legacy continues to thrive through generations, with a constant commitment to innovation and quality in the creation of these unique works of art.