Matagorō VIII 八代目又五郎

Matagorō VIII 八代目又五郎

Sosaku

Master: Matagorō VII (七代目又五郎) – Family lineage
Apprentice: Kiyomi Matagorō (喜代美) – Ninth-generation successor

Matagorō VIII was an eighth-generation Japanese kokeshi craftsman from Nangai, Akita Prefecture, continuing a family woodcarving tradition dating back approximately 300 years to the Edo period. Unlike conventional lathe-turned kokeshi, his dolls were carefully hand-carved from natural Akita cedar, preserving the wood's distinctive grain. His works feature elegant cylindrical forms, minimalist facial expressions, and traditional calligraphy, sometimes incorporating haiku inspired by local landscapes. The family's craftsmanship was subsequently carried forward by the ninth generation, Kiyomi Matagorō.