Tsuta Mamoru born on November 10, 1928, as the fifth son of Tsuta Kosaku in Ogawara-cho, Shibata-gun. In April 1934, he was adopted by Tsuta Sakuzo of Onogawa Onsen, Misawa-mura, Minamiokitama-gun. In 1944, he joined the Maizuru Marine Corps of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and in September 1945, he was demobilized and returned home. After the war, he ran the Tsutaya souvenir shop with Sakuzo, while making kokeshi dolls. Sakuzo's eldest son, Fumio, was born when he was over 50 years old, and he taught Fumio woodworking techniques. Tsuta continued to make Kokeshi dolls intermittently in between the management of Tsutaya Product Shop. From around 1983, he also taught Tsuchiya Sajibei how to paint and color Kokeshi dolls. From around 1998, he became ill and tried to recuperate, but he passed away on February 21, 2009, aged 82. Size: 29.5cm tall
