Artisan | Woodturner: Miyakawa Yuichi | 宮川雄一

About👤

Year of Birth: 1964

Location: Maebashi City, Gunma, Prefecture

Master: Miyakawa Kunio (father)

Apprentice:

Workshop: Miyagawa Kokeshi Workshop (宮川こけし製作所)

Kokeshi Style: Sōsaku | 創作こけし

🧐 Note on Name Signature Nuance:
To clear up any confusion between the generations and the signatures: Kunio Miyagawa (宮川邦夫, b. 1933) is the pioneering father, and Yuichi Miyagawa (宮川雄一) is his son and successor who runs the Miyagawa Kokeshi Workshop (宮川こけし製作所) at the foot of Mt. Akagi.

In 1984, Yuichi san entered Osaka University of Arts, majoring in textile design at the Department of Crafts. He conceived the idea of linking textiles and kokeshi dolls and additionally began creating sculptures.

In 1988, he began making kokeshi dolls under the guidance of his father, kokeshi artist Kunio Miyakawa, at the Miyakawa Kokeshi Dolls Factory. He would go on to win multiple awards for his creative Kokeshi works including the Prime Minister's award

His message to Kokeshi collectors

"I want the kokeshi dolls I make to be confident and proud, no matter how far away they go. I send them out with the intention of saying, “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine,” and hope that they will continue to be loved forever.
I hope that the kokeshi dolls I make will be filled with love
And I hope that the Kokeshi dolls I made will bring you love."

Awards🏅

Prime Minister’s Award

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award

Director-General of the Forestry Agency Award

Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Award

Many other awards

Exhibitions | Memberships 🖼️

Other📑

Community gallery: Link

Soulportals gallery: Link

Known signatures: Link

Sources📰

Yuichi-miyakawa KOKESHI-DOLL | 宮川雄一こけし. (2026). Yuichi-Miyakawa.Jp. https://www.yuichi-miyakawa.jp/