Nakanosawa | 中ノ沢系

In the 1920s across a mountain pass from Tsuchiyu Onsen in Nakanosawa a dancer by the name of Iwamoto Zenkichi, who had settled there, is said to have created the Nakanosawa Kokeshi now a sub-strain of the Tsuchiyu Kokeshi.

His design is believed to be based on a papier mache dance figure he used in his performances. People became interested in this striking, odd style of Kokeshi, and humorously nicknamed it Taka Bozo (octopus with a shaven monk's head.)

His son, Iwamoto Yoshizô, carried on production after his father's early death, but sadly he also died young. A group of Yoshizo's apprentices founded the Taka Bozo-kei association to carry on the Nakanosawa style, which is also called the Zenkichi type, after the creator.

🧭 Origins & Lineage

📍 Region: Nakanosawa, Tsuchiyu, Sakuma, Kamegoro, AizuWakamatsu, Inawashiro, Iizaka, Hino, Tokyo, Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture
🧓 Founders: Iwamoto Zenkichi (1920s), inspired by papier-mâché dance figures

🧬 Substrain: Tsuchiyu
🧑‍🎤 Cultural

Note: Nicknamed Taka Bozo (“octopus with a shaven monk’s head”) for its quirky design.

🧑‍🏫 Legacy: Continued by Iwamoto Yoshizô and later the Taka Bozo-kei Association
🖼 Museum Collaboration: Morohashi Museum of Modern Art x Noya Satoshi, Salvador Dalí tribute

🪵 Materials & Colors

🌳 Wood Type: Mizuki (dogwood), Cherry (sakura), Zelkova (rare)
🎨 Palette: Yellow, Red, Green, Black, and most recently Orange
🧩 Assembly:

Two-piece construction (head + body)
Hina and Ejiko styles also produced
Double-headed versions by Noya Satoshi

🧠 Head & Hair Designs

🟫 Shapes: Big oval or blocky head with flat top
🌀 Top Design: Concentric rings (Janome or “snake’s eye”), center left unpainted
💇 Styles:

Bangs, side tufts, single tuft at back
Red curving lines between tufts (Kase)
Occasional mages (topknots)
Rings sometimes painted in purple or green

😊 Facial Features

👄 Mouth / Lips: o Double circular closed mouth o Single or double black line with red inner circle
👁 Eyes: o Double eyelid

Bikkuri-me (enlarged surprised eyes)
Red/pink blush under eyes

🌸 Cheeks: Typically no blush

🧍‍♀️ Body Shapes & Styles

📏 Form:

Slender body tapering toward the top
Two-piece construction

👘 Kimono Motifs:

Zigzag lines in red, black, green, purple, and blue - Varying thickness with slight paint bleeding into wood
Reverse lathe lines (Kaeshi)
Hats occasionally featured

🌼 Floral Motifs

🌸 Common: Peony blossoms, Yaezakura (double cherry blossoms)
🌹 Rare: Iris, Bell flowers
🎨 Placement: Integrated into body design, often stylized

🎐 Other Design Elements

👒 Hats: Found in select pieces

🧪 Contemporary Notes

Nakanasawa born from the creative spirit of a dancer and shaped by the mountain mists of Fukushima, Nakanosawa Kokeshi are eccentric, expressive, and deeply rooted in performance art. Their bold features and zigzag motifs reflect a legacy of individuality and artistic rebellion.

🆕 Shingata: Modern artisans add personalized flourishes and characteristics.
🧠 Innovation: Noya Satoshi’s double-headed Nakanosawa Kokeshi

See additional information related to "All Dento" Kokeshi here