Shitō Shōzan | 志形尚山

1932 - 1995 Ōita Prefecture, Japan

🧐 Note on Name Nuance

Name often seen as "Shido" However, several old exhibition booklets translate his name to Shitō.

About👤

Shido Shozan is widely celebrated as one of the most influential sōsaku Kokeshi artists of the 20th century. After earning a law degree from Chuo University, he pivoted to woodcraft in 1959, eventually settling in Yonezawa, Yamagata, a snowy region that profoundly shaped his aesthetic sensibilities. His Kokeshi often depict unadorned northern girls dressed in mino (traditional straw snow coats), rendered with elegant restraint and a deep reverence for natural materials.

Beyond Kokeshi, Shido found joy in crafting birdhouses, many of which were featured in an NCV interview filmed at his home. His artistic reach extended across various media, not limited to wood, and he was regularly commissioned for custom works. A passionate admirer of global craftsmanship, particularly the textures and patterns found in Pakistani art, he created the Silk Road Kokeshi series to reflect this cross-cultural appreciation.

A true polymath, Shido also composed the school song for Yonezawa’s Atago Elementary School, a piece still sung today. His work not only continue to be cherished by collectors and enthusiasts, but are one of the most recognizable amongst collectors, standing as a testament to his enduring legacy in the world of Japanese folk art.

Awards🏅

1961 All Japan Kokeshi Contest Award; Small and Medium Enterprise Director Award
1962 All Japan Kokeshi Contest; Prime Minister Award
1962 All Japan Kokeshi Contest; JETRO award
1966 All Japan Kokeshi Contest; Yonezawa City Mayor Award
1967 All Japan Kokeshi Exhibition; Writer’s Guild Award
1968 All Japan Kokeshi Exhibition; Grand Award
1969 All Japan Kokeshi Exhibition; JETRO award
1970 All Japan Kokeshi Contest; Award Small and Medium Enterprise Director Award
1976 National Kokeshi Contest; Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award

Exhibitions | Memberships 🖼️

1966 Kokeshi Exhibition in New York
1982 Displayed his works in the international craftsmen exhibition in Venice

Other📑

Sources

Evans, M., & Wolf, R. (2005). Kokeshi : wooden treasures of Japan : a visual exploration. Vermillion.
Evans, M., & Wolf, R. (2015). Sosaku Kokeshi: a New Look at an Old Tradition. Vermillion Publishing.
Evans, M., & Wolf, R. (2022). Sosaku Kokeshi: Celebrating the Major Artists of the Creative Movement (1st ed., p. 206). BookBaby.
NCV米沢. (2017, December 7). おじゃまします「木とのかたらい」創作こけし作家　志藤尚山. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RfDr7n4NL8 Retrieved 07/21/2025 (Niko Niko Cable TV)
Shido, S. (1971). [Singing Wooden Figures]. Tokyo: Otsuka Art and Design Company. (Photographs by Yamanaka Sanpei & Takaku Ryoichi) [Limited edition, 1,000 copies].
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.
admin. (2023, October 18). 志藤尚山 / Shido Shozan | 創作こけしの杜 Wonderful life with Kokeshi. Kokeshi-Sousaku.com. https://kokeshi-sousaku.com/shido-shozan/
JETRO. (ca. 1955). Kokeshi dolls. New York/Tokyo: JETRO Japan Society.