Kiyohara Takao is one of the most popular and prolific of the creative Kokeshi artists and began creating dolls after serving as a pilot in the Japanese/American war. He was considered a transitional artist because many of his dolls resemble traditional Tougatta or Yamagata dolls. His dolls are artistically and minimally decorated. He was awarded the Minister’s Prize four times along with the Enterprise Agency top prize on two different occasions. Kyohara is an artist who defies classification, while he is a well-established and popular Kokensi doll maker who at the beginning of his career, was known as a “Transitional” artist. Little is known about whom he might have studied under, or for that matter, where he operated his studio. Most sources agree that since he is not included in any books on the traditional artists, nor is there mention of him with other well-known creative artists, he has been accorded his own place: that of the "mystery man". He has been awarded the MIND Award, (Ministry of Industry).
