A vintage evocative sōsaku kokeshi by artist Shunji Furuyama (古山俊二) stands out with its detailed hand-painted design and expressive character portrayal. The figure appears to be dressed in the distinctive attire of a Yamabushi (山伏), mountain ascetic monks of the Shugendō tradition, known for their spiritual training and rituals in Japan’s sacred mountains.
The back of the kimono shows a decorative box pattern (possibly a tachi-ōgi fan or crest), enhancing the figure's status or ceremonial nature. The doll reveals itself not as a simple monk but a complex character, a dramatized or legendary yamabushi warrior or a kabuki persona from an epic tale.
About the Artist Shunji Furuyama (古山俊二) is a lesser-known sōsaku kokeshi artist, and not much biographical information is publicly documented. However, his works demonstrate remarkable craftsmanship and attention to detail, often with strong character expressions and narrative elements.
