Craftsman strives to hand down traditional kokeshi making skills

An avid fan of kokeshi traditional handcrafted wooden dolls who has been traveling across the country to buy them has become a kokeshi craftsman working to preserve the tradition.

Toshio Takada, 53, quit his job and began training at a studio in Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture, after turning 40.

Despite his late start, he surprised others in 2017 when he was awarded the prime minister’s prize, the top award, at the All Japan Kokeshi Competition held in the city.