Restrained, calm, almost monochrome – and all the more expressive for it. In this kendama, Hideyuki Sato brings together the form of the traditional skill toy with the quiet elegance of Yajiro kokeshi.
The ken – the heart of the kendama – is designed as a kokeshi body in the Yajiro style. Its tapered form carries a subtle Rokuro-Moyo pattern in black and dark brown: broad, lathe-turned rings alternate with finer bands, allowing the natural Mizuki wood to remain clearly visible. At the lower end there is a hand-painted wavy line motif, with the artist’s signature above it. The two sakazuki are left natural, their pale wood grain creating a deliberate contrast with the darker central section.
The tama – the ball – is shaped as a kokeshi head. The face is soft and introspective: closed eyes, a barely suggested mouth, red cheeks and a delicate nose line. The black hair crown is sparse yet precise; side sections of hair frame the face and emphasise its calm expression. No decorative excess, but a concentrated, almost meditative design.
The kendama fully corresponds to the Competition Size established by the Japan Kendama Association (JKA). This makes it suitable not only as a collector’s piece, but also for advanced players who value professional dimensions and balance.
Special features:
Kokeshi kendama in the Yajiro tradition
Ken designed as a kokeshi body with Rokuro-Moyo lathe-work in black and dark brown
Restrained, earthy colour palette with visible Mizuki wood grain
Tama as a kokeshi head with closed eyes, red cheeks and black hair crown
Natural sakazuki – pale wood as a deliberate contrast
Competition Size according to JKA standards
Hand-turned and hand-painted by Hideyuki Sato, Miyagi
Signed by the artist
Dimensions:
Ken height: 160 mm
Tama diameter: 60 mm
Sarado width: 70 mm
Big Cup inner diameter: 40 mm
Small Cup inner diameter: 36 mm
Base Cup inner diameter: 34 mm
Wood: Mizuki dogwood Origin: Miyagi, Japan | Handmade
Hideyuki Sato represents the third generation of the long-established Kijidokoro Sato workshop. As a Kokeshi kōjin, he masters the complete process, from selecting and preparing the wood to turning, painting and finishing each individual Kokeshi.
