Hideyuki Sato is a third-generation koujin: wood selection, drying, turning, painting and distribution have been in one hand, in one family, since 1901. This Kokeshi carries its name in the most literal sense: inside the figure is a baby Kokeshi – embedded, protected, quietly present. Migomori. Guarding the body.
This special form has its own name: Ireko. The Japanese word refers to nesting and fitting one thing inside another. A Kokeshi that contains another within itself. Not a trick, not a gimmick – but a craft principle that demands precision: both parts must fit without sticking and without rattling.
Sato works in the Yajiro tradition: a slender, conical body, stable stance and the characteristic Rokuro-Moyo pattern that wraps the body in dense lines of red, green and black. At the centre of the body is a hand-painted tsubaki motif – the camellia in rich red, with green leaves and a yellow stamen.
The round head has expressive Hitoe-Mabuta eyes with black eyelash accents, red cheeks and a small mouth. The black hair crown is finished with red decorative blossoms along the hairline – a hallmark of the Yajiro tradition.
The upper part of the figure can be removed. Beneath it: a baby Kokeshi. Mother and child, outside and inside – the piece holds both together without explaining them.
Special features
Migomori Kokeshi with baby Kokeshi inside (Ireko construction)
Hand-turned and hand-painted – by Kijidokoro Sato, Miyagi
Wood: Mizuki (dogwood)
Signed by the artist
Dimensions
Height
approx. 14 cm
Diameter
approx. 5 cm
With Ireko Kokeshi, the fitted closure may become tighter or harder to move due to humidity and the natural swelling of the wood – this is not a flaw, but part of the nature of the material. Please handle with appropriate care.
Please note
This product is not a toy and should be kept out of the reach of children.
