In Japanese art, the tiger has never been gentle. It stands for strength, courage, and protection against evil — a force of nature rendered in brushstroke and pigment for centuries. The cherry blossom is its counterpart: fleeting, delicate, a reminder that beauty doesn't last. Takatoshi Hayashi puts both on a single piece of Mizuki wood.
Every spring, Hayashi-san creates one Sakura edition. This year, the tiger takes the wheel. The body is turned on a lathe, prepared by hand, and painted in five stages — base coat first, then the fine lines and accents that bring the figure to life. The wheels roll. The tiger glares. The Kokeshi rider sits calm.
Each figure is produced with the same process and the same care — handmade in Japan, built to last.
Takatoshi Hayashi draws on his background in a family kimono business to create a contemporary Kokeshi language of his own. His work reflects textile patterns and traditional design while introducing playful figures, animals and imaginative wooden vehicles.
