Crafted by Sakyo Niyama (b. 1934), this Yajiro-style kokeshi doll embodies the vibrant aesthetic and heritage of one of the most colorful traditional kokeshi lineages. Born in Fukushima Prefecture and raised amidst the wartime movements of his family, Niyama began his training under his father Sanai in the late 1940s, eventually establishing his own kokeshi shop at the entrance to Yajiro in 1957.
This particular doll features the signature characteristics of the Yajiro tradition: a rounded head with wide, sweeping bangs, vivid red headband, and refined brush strokes forming sleepy, almond-shaped eyes and delicate red lips. The body is decorated with bold horizontal bands and simple abstract motifs at the lower half, often referred to as "mimi" (ear) or petal-like strokes—symbols of understated beauty in Yajiro kokeshi.
A work of quiet charm and lineage, this kokeshi reflects Niyama’s mastery of his family's tradition and his contributions to the preservation and continuation of Yajiro-style dolls during the postwar revival of folk art. His son, Tamio, later followed in his footsteps, continuing the legacy into the next generation.
