Fumio Tomidokoro

(1948-)

Bio & Awards

Fumio Tomidokoro was born in 1948 in Gunma-Machi (today part of Takasaki city). He’s been a kokeshi artist for over 50 years now and serves as the head of the creative kokeshi artist association. He uses the lovely tones of keyaki wood (zelkova) to bring the warmth out of his kokeshi dolls. He compliments that warmth with cute & elegant carvings and decorations, often featuring winter and nature motifs such as wind by using the natural wood pattern and hair carving to match the overall direction of the wood pattern. He sometimes decorates his kokeshi dolls using scarfs or depicting them being wrapped in blanket.

Prizes

1987 – National Modern Kokeshi Exhibition Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award
1998 – Gunma Prefecture Modern Kokeshi Contest Prime Minister Award
2007 – Gunma Prefecture Modern Kokeshi Contest Prime Minister Award
2008 – Gunma Prefecture Modern Kokeshi Contest Prime Minister Award
2012 – Gunma Prefecture Modern Kokeshi Contest Prime Minister Award
2014 – All Japan Kokeshi Contest Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award
2015 – Gunma Prefecture Modern Kokeshi Contest Prime Minister Award
2019 – All Japan Kokeshi Contest Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award
2023 – All Japan Kokeshi Contest JR East Company Award