About👤

Yokozuka Ikuhō also seen as Ikuyoshi was born in Chichibu-shi, Saitama-ken, Yokozuka-san spent most of his life working in Yonezawa-shi, Gunma-ken. Though his date of birth remains unknown, his impact on the world of Sosaku Kokeshi is notable. He began creating Kokeshi dolls in 1964 and was later honored with the Prime Minister’s Award for his innovative and imaginative works. Ikuo-san did not produce Kokeshi for a long period of time, his death was listed in a Kokeshi book published in 1973 so his works are considered rare. Sadly, little else is documented about this remarkable artisan.

Yokozuka’s work reveals a deep fascination with innocence, most notably expressed through the distinctive eyes of his dolls, each gaze capturing emotion and spirit. These expressive features serve as key identifiers of his creations. One of his most unusual yet signature techniques involve lathe-turning the Haori (jacket) as a separate and articulated element, lending his Kokeshi a sculptural dimensionality not typically seen in the genre.

Yokozuka-san was known for sculpting highly original forms, some bearing a resemblance to science fiction figures and anime. His artistic language favored bold simplicity. His minimalist approach to surface decoration, often using only sumi-e ink to suggest facial features and hair, allowed the form itself to take center stage. In stripping away ornamentation, he revealed the quiet power of silhouette, structure and the beauty of the wood grain.

 

Awards🏅

Prime Minister's Award

 

Other📑

Sources:

1. Wolf, R., & Evans, M. (2025c). Artisan | Woodworker: Yokozuka, Ikuyoshi. Mingei Arts. https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-yokozuka-ikuyoshi-1960
2. Molina, M. (2018). Yokozuka Ikuo (pp. 4–5). In J. Holmgren (Ed.), KokeshiTrends Journal, 1(6–7).

 

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