Sakunami kokeshi dolls, born in the mountains of Sakunami Onsen, Miyagi Prefecture, are a traditional craft with approximately 160 years of history, said to be the oldest kokeshi dolls in Tohoku. Teruyuki Hiraga is currently the only maker of Sakunami kokeshi dolls. He grew up watching his grandfather and father, both craftsmen, and has been involved in kokeshi doll making since elementary school. We asked Mr. Hiraga, who laughs and says, "This was my only option," what it means to preserve tradition.
Teruyuki Hiraga
Born in 1972 in Miyagi Prefecture. He inherited the family business from his grandfather and father and has been seriously engaged in manufacturing Sakunami kokeshi dolls since graduating from high school. He is one of the leading artisans in the modern kokeshi world, having received the Prime Minister's Award, the highest award, at the All Japan Kokeshi Contest in 2014. He is also the sole maker of Sakunami kokeshi dolls.
(*Article content is based on information at the time of the interview)
#1 From Toys to Decorative Art
The evolution of Sakunami kokeshi, said to be the oldest of the 12 Tohoku styles
──First, could you tell us about the basic shape of Sakunami kokeshi?
This is a traditional kokeshi doll. It's the old shape of Sakunami kokeshi, characterized by a slender body. This slenderness is the most basic, fundamental shape.
As time went on and they became more for appreciation, the bodies were made thicker for stability, and sometimes bases were added. That way, they wouldn't fall over even in an earthquake.
──How did kokeshi dolls originally come about?
They are said to have originally been made as children's toys. Boys played with spinning tops, and girls played with kokeshi dolls, sometimes in the form of dress-up dolls. It seems they also played by draping cloth over the kokeshi dolls.
──What would you say are the characteristics of Sakunami kokeshi?
The slender body and inverted triangular shape are characteristic of the old style. The facial expressions used to be a bit more severe than they are now.
After the war, during my great-grandfather's generation, the faces became softer like this, but those are also considered traditional kokeshi.
──I heard that there are several styles of kokeshi dolls across Japan.
In Tohoku, there are 12 different styles, and Sakunami kokeshi is one of them.
There are styles from Aomori in the north to Fukushima in the south. Among those with documented evidence, Sakunami is said to be the oldest. It has a history of over 150 to 160 years.
──Why has it endured for so long?
I wonder why.
However, there isn't much record left regarding the faces. We don't really know what the faces of old kokeshi dolls looked like...
There are no kokeshi dolls remaining from before my great-grandfather's time, and it seems that people in the past used to burn old, dirty kokeshi dolls during their annual house cleaning. They probably didn't understand their value.
──I heard that it once died out.
That's right. There was a period when there were no woodworkers (kiji-shi) left in Sakunami.
So, my grandfather was told by the owner of Iwamatsu Ryokan, "Go to Yamagata and train," and he went.
He trained in Yamagata, learned techniques from a father and son there, married a woman, and came back here. So what originated in Miyagi Prefecture disappeared for a time and then returned from Yamagata.
#2 There was no hand-holding whatsoever.
Peeling bark in elementary school, carrying timber in middle school. Learning by observation, absorbing through experience.
──When did you first become involved in making kokeshi dolls?
I was already peeling bark off timber in elementary school, as a helper. I'd seen the whole process since I was little, but I don't remember ever being taught step-by-step; it was definitely something you learned by doing.
──So it was a world where you learned by observing.
That's right. My father started having health problems in his 40s, so by the time I was in junior high, I was doing everything myself, starting from carrying timber.
As for the lathe work, at first I was just made to do the削る (shaving/carving) part over and over. My grandpa would shave, my dad would shave, and I'd make my own creations in the remaining time.
──You continued doing that from ages 16 or 17. How did you feel back then?
I had also dropped out of high school, so my friends would come by on their motorcycles in the evening, and I'd think I wanted to finish early and go play with them.
But I also thought, "This is boring" because I was doing the same thing all the time (laughs).
It has a 150-year tradition, and despite various challenges, we've continued it to this day. Every year, during Obon and Higan, I always go to clean the graves of the first and second generations.
──Have you done anything to help you continue for so long?
My grandfather used to weed the backyard when he got fed up.
I, for my part, grew vegetables in my home garden. I even got told off by everyone for focusing too much on that (laughs).
But other kokeshi makers go fishing and still manage to make so many. I think it's really important to refresh your mind with things you enjoy while also making kokeshi.
