This Sōsaku kokeshi originates from Nagano Prefecture of Shinano-ji 信濃路 and 上山田 Kamiyamada, an area long associated with hot-spring culture, travel, and folk craftsmanship. The doll reflects the quiet poetry of the region, combining a gentle, introspective expression with a highly narrative form.
Carved in a distinctive assembled style, the figure features a rounded head with softly closed eyes and fine lashes, conveying a calm, almost dreamlike mood. The hair is sculpted as a separate cap-like form, emphasizing volume and smooth natural grain. The kimono is constructed from individually carved panels that open slightly at the front, revealing careful layering and adding a sense of movement and depth.
Each kimono panel is hand-painted with scenic and seasonal motifs tied to Shinano and Kamiyamada—one side depicting fruit and foliage suggestive of the countryside, the other illustrating a local landscape with mountains, stone walls, and roadside imagery. These details evoke the feeling of traveling along the old Shinano road, where everyday life, nature, and pilgrimage quietly intersect.
