Artisan | Woodturner: Ohtani Yoshio | 大谷良夫

About👤

Year of Birth: 1936

Location: Maebashi City

Style: Sōsaku Kokeshi

In the 1994–1998 Shibukawa exhibition book, artisan Ohtani Yoshio reflects on his Kokeshi journey, recalling that his first encounter with the craft felt much like meeting a person, it was the warmth and simplicity of the wood that drew him in. He was captivated by its quiet kindness and felt a deep desire to give it new life through his hands. For Ohtani-san, Kokeshi that embrace the natural grain and warmth of the wood have the power to stir joyful, nostalgic memories. Through his work, he hoped to share those feelings, offering the gentle smiles of his dolls as wordless messengers of happiness and connection.

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Signatures
All Artisan files

Awards🏅

1968 Began creating Kokeshi
1972 Prizeof the Director Tokyo District Bureau MITI.
1978 Prize of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and Fishery
1981 Prize of the General Director of Small and Medium Enterprise
1982 Prime Minister's prize for "Yubae"

Exhibitions | Memberships

Member of Nippon Kokeshi Artistic Handicraft Association

Other📑

Community gallery: Link

Soulportals gallery: Link

Known signatures: Link

Sources📰

Shibukawa City Board of Education, Lifelong Learning Division. (1998). Creative Kokeshi Doll Exhibition in Shibukawa City: 20th & 5th catalogue, 1994–1998 (Ishihara, Ed.). Shibukawa City & Shibukawa City Board of Education.