Hayashi Takatoshi | 林貴俊

Tree Tree Ishinomaki

b.1975

About👤

Established in 2020 in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Tree Tree Ishinomaki presents a compelling reinterpretation of the traditional Kokeshi. Founded by Takatoshi Hayashi (林貴俊), a third-generation kimono artisan whose family enterprise, Hayashiya Gofukuten, has long served the Tachimachidōri district. In marrying his two passion his goal is to support cultural and economic revitalization in the post-disaster Tōhoku region. During my visit to his home studio he not only demonstrated some of his work but also guided us through his neighborhood where beautiful cherry blossoms were blooming and people enjoyed the ocean views. (M. Molina, personal communication, April 2025).

Operating out of the historic premises of Hayashiya Gofukuten, Hayashi now devotes the majority of his time—by his own estimation, nearly 80%, to the craft of hand-turned, wooden, Kokeshi making. His process integrates regionally sourced materials and traditional forms with a light-hearted aesthetic, designed to foster both community participation and cultural tourism.

The name “Tree Tree” is a multilayered linguistic gesture. It draws from the kanji 木 (“tree”), which appears twice in Hayashi’s surname, and gestures toward the Japanese phrase ki to ki (“spirit to spirit”), signifying interpersonal connection. This poetic naming encapsulates the studio’s ethos: deeply rooted in artisanal legacy, continually branching into innovation, and sustained through a spirit of shared imagination.

Awards🏅

N/A

Other📑

Sources

Takatoshi, H. (2021). Tree Tree Ishinomak | About. 石巻こけし. https://www.treetreeishinomaki.com/about Retrieved 2025, June 22