Suisan aka Suizan | 衰残

Year of birth | Location Unavailable

About 👤

Kokeshi crafted in Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture are distinguished by the beautiful and rare Harusame-bori carving style. Believed to have originated from the Zao Takayu lineage in Yamagata, this technique is now nearly extinct, practiced by only a few known-artisans, including Suizan, Teisaku, and Kagami Genzo. While examples of their work occasionally appear at public auctions, no biographical information about these artisans has been found in the public domain.

Harusame-bori (春雨彫り), meaning "spring rain carving," is a delicate and highly distinctive technique characterized by fine, rain-like striations carved directly into the wood. These subtle, rhythmic incisions evoke the gentle fall of spring rain, lending the dolls an understated elegance. Unlike most Kokeshi, which are typically painted, Harusame-bori dolls are left unpainted, emphasizing the natural grain of the wood and showcasing the artisan’s mastery of form and texture.

This technique reflects both a reverence for nature and a quiet aesthetic that sets these dolls apart from more common styles. According to Ayuko Shirai, citing information provided by the Kaminoyama City Office, the Harusame-bori style is rapidly disappearing.

These dolls are easy to recognize: unpainted, with finely carved facial features and distinct, textured bodies that stand out clearly among shingata (modern-style) Kokeshi. All are typically signed or bear a hanko.

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Sources

A. Shirahai, personal communication, December 08, 2015
Kaminoyama City Tourism and Products Association | See Japan, Experience Sendai Activities. (2025). See Japan, Experience Sendai Activities. https://sendai-experience.com/en/ho/157