This Togatta kokeshi by Maehara Yasuo (前原康夫), features a warm, polished wood body and an elegantly simple painted design. The doll’s head is rounded and smoothly turned, with expressive, gently curved eyebrows, almond‑shaped eyes, and a subtle smile. The hair is depicted in thick black brushwork, with side locks framing the face.
The body is decorated with a vertical motif of stylized leaves or petals, painted in black over a soft wood grain—a design that carries a calm, rhythmic quality. Lathe lines are visible on the shoulders, and the transition from head to neck is well proportioned. The surface has acquired a gentle patina over time, lending it a quiet dignity.
Related to the artist Maehara Yasuo, there are no information about his biography, accessible peer‑reviewed papers or in-depth exhibitions that profile him as a major craftsman. He appears to have been a mid–20th-century craftsperson whose works are recognized in collector markets. His style is commonly attributed to the Tōgatta lineage.
