This Shingata Kokeshi was created by Misui 美水 and dates to the flourishing period of Japan’s creative kokeshi movement around the 1960s–1970s.
The doll has a beautifully rounded silhouette, with a large spherical head set above a softly tapering body. Its expression is especially appealing: gently closed eyes, a small smiling mouth, and stylised black hair accented with red and green floral details. The deep reddish-purple body is decorated with fine horizontal bands in muted green and darker tones, giving the piece a subtle rhythmic pattern while allowing the warmth of the wood to remain visible.
Shingata Kokeshi, meaning “new-style kokeshi,” developed alongside the broader creative kokeshi movement as artists began moving beyond the strict regional conventions of traditional dolls. Makers experimented more freely with proportion, colour, surface decoration, and personality, creating pieces that reflected both Japanese folk tradition and the modern design sensibilities of the postwar era.
Crafted during the height of this movement, this doll by Misui 美水 reflects that balance beautifully. Its compact form, cheerful face, and restrained decoration give it a distinctly mid-century character while preserving the warmth and simplicity associated with handmade Japanese wooden dolls.
