Aida Seihō was a multi-award winning artisan born in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. He was one of the many contributors to the 1960s Sōsaku (creative) Kokeshi movement. Online translators often render his name as "Aida Harumine" in English. However, old exhibition books clearly indicate that the English translation for his name should be Aida Seihō

Aida-san was a pioneering figure in the Sosaku Kokeshi movement. He began crafting Kokeshi in the mid-20th century and gained acclaim for his distinctive and award-winning creations. His contributions to the art form earned him significant honors, cementing his status as one of the leading early artists in the sōsaku movement. Furthermore, since 1981, Aida Seiho had supplied commemorative Kokeshi dolls to Nippon Television’s variety series "Challenge to the Stars" (スターに挑戦), marking guest appearances with handcrafted symbols of cultural continuity, until his passing*. His artistic legacy is carried forward by his eldest son, Aida Yoshiki, who is now devoted to continuing the family’s creative lineage as a second-generation Kokeshi artist.

The kimono designs on his dolls vary between two vibes, some are super simple with chattering marks that give a nice textured feel, while others are carefully hand-painted with flowers and plants that match the seasons. He usually works with woods like Enju (Pagoda tree) and Kabanoki (Birch), which have a beautiful natural color and grain that do most of the heavy lifting. He doesn’t use much paint, so the wood really gets to shine. The faces are pretty minimal but still manage to show a lot of expression, just enough detail for the nose and those thoughtful eyes. When he invests additional consideration into the Kokeshi's hairstyle, it not only complements the overall appearance but also integrates seamlessly with the essence of the kimono's aesthetic.

1962 National Kokeshi Doll Exhibition Artists Association Chairman's Award

1972 Modern Kokeshi Academy Award

1974 Modern Kokeshi Academy Award

1974 National Modern Kokeshi Exhibition Minister of Education Encouragement Award

1978 Modern Kokeshi Federation Anniversary Special Award

Member Yonezawa Miyuki Association

Member of Nippon KOKESHI Artistic Handicraft Association

1) Photo: Yamanaka, N. (1973). Contemporary Kokeshi: The People and Their Works (T. Kano, Ed.; p. 138) [Review of Contemporary Kokeshi: The People and Their Works]. Original in Black and White; Colorized by KokeshiTrends.com

2) Wolf, R., & Evans, M. (2025a). Artisan | Woodworker: Aida, Seihou | 1926-1998. Mingei Arts. https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-aida-seihou-1926-1998, 2025, June 23 Snapshot

3) Creative KOKESHI Artistic Handicraft Directory. Supervised by Daizo Nishide, directed by Kazuo Izumi, Nippon Kokeshi Artistic Handicraft Association, July 1983

* Link Reference to the Kokeshi (こけし) Prize for the show

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