SENDAI MID STATION

Hijiori-style Kokeshi [Okura Village, Yamagata & Sendai City, Miyagi]

Bold and captivating Kokeshi with unmistakable character

Hijiori,locatedonthenorthernslopesofMountGassaninYamagata,haslongbeenawellknownhotspringretreatDenzoKakizaki,borninHijioriduringtheBunseiera,trainedasawoodworkerinNarukoandlaterreturnedhomeintheMeijiperiodtoestablishthefoundationoftheHijioristyleKokeshiHisapprenticeandlateradoptedson,TogoroInoue,trainedinTogatta,giving"HijioristyleKokeshi"influencesfrombothNarukoandTogattatraditions
TheseKokeshihavelarge,detachableheadsthatcanbeeitherslightlysquareorround,adornedwith"Tegara"patternsandboldhairornamentsItscrescentshapedeyesseemtospeak,anditswelldefinedlipsaddtoitsstrikingunforgettablepresenceThebroadshoulderedbodyisoftenpaintedyellow,withfloralmotifslike"layeredchrysanthemums"anddianthusThevividcolors,reminiscentofWesternoilpaintings,andtheirintenseindividualitycaptivatecollectors*Kiji=Woodenvesselssuchasbowlsandtrays,beforetheyarepainted**Kijishi=Acraftsmanwhousesalathetoshapeandcreatewoodenitemssuchasbowlsandtrays