Fumio Tomidokoro Kokeshi Artist

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

Fumio Tomidokoro Signature

Here you can see samples of the artists signature.

Available Dolls for Sale

Here you can see samples of the artists signature.