Master Craftsmen of Hina Dolls

As the first son of former Keiho, he was born and raised surrounded by Hina Dolls.
He has grown familiar with dolls since childhood. He started his career as a doll maker with his father Keiho, mainly focused on making the Hina Doll, armor, and helmet. He mastered unique traditional skills and style and has, up to the present day, lived a life dedicated to the making of dolls. His works, created with polished and superb skills, are praised for style – as the top creator in the world.
Played an active role as a leader in the Kyoto Doll Association since 1955.
Received Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon in 1964.
“Contemporary Craftsman” Commended by the Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare as an Outstanding Technician in 2001.
Received Medal with Yellow Ribbon in 2007.

Born in Kyoto, master craftsman of classical Kyoto Hina Doll, and his father is the first Heian Ippo.
Heian Ippo the first, who learned under the ninth Urokogataya head, Nakamura Tahei, had stuck to making Kyoto Dolls for over 60 years and had initiated the second Heian Ippo into the polished skills.
His delicate and bold expression created gorgeous and elegant works that leave us fascinated and mesmerized the more we watch him work.
He made the first presentation at Kyoto Traditional Industries and Craftsmanship Contest and won the prize seven times, including the very first award.
Certified as a Traditional Craftsman designated by the Minister of International Trade and Industry in 1989. Received Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays in 2010 and is a representative master craftsman in the Kyoto Doll world both in name and in reality.

After the first Hinakou started making Hina Dolls in Kyoto in 1855, the works of the second Hinakou were purchased by the Imperial Household Agency and the third Hinakou received a Medal with Yellow Ribbon in recognition of successful skills in making Yusoku-bina (dolls clad in the exact replica of elegant court attire of the Heian period).
The fifth Hinakou started to learn doll making under the fourth Hinakou in 1999 and is now making a lot of original Hina Dolls.
Certified as Traditional Craftsman of Traditional Craftwork, Kyoto Doll in 2016.

Born in Kyoto in 1941.
Was apprentice to his father, former “Seiho,” and engaged in Hina Doll making for over 40 years. He beautifully adopted the skills of his father.
His style makes much of tradition. He keeps classical tradition consistent with the characteristics of good doll balance and he re-creates the elaborate and elegant Imperial Court productions in the present day. Certified as a Traditional Craftsman of Traditional Craftwork, Kyoto Doll designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry. He devotes himself to Kyoto Doll making.

Born in 1960. Graduated from Doshisha University. Was rigorously trained as the 19th official maker of Kyoto Dolls, as the second son of former Heian Mitsuyoshi, who took over the style of hand-making dolls with refinement and elegance after the first Eya Gonemon entered the Imperial Court as an official maker of Yusoku-bina for the Imperial Court during the Tensho era.
Certified as a Traditional Craftsman of Traditional Craftwork, Kyoto Doll designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry. He plays an active role as a young, official Kyoto Doll maker and also takes on a leadership role in the doll world.

Graduated from Osaka University of Arts and, after working in a graphic design job, he was apprenticed by the third Kawase Chozan (his mother-in-law) in 1985.
Succeeded to the name of the fourth Kawase Chozan.

Born in Kyoto City in 1947, he was trained by the third head of Kitamura Syogetsudo, Shinichi in 1972. He became a Traditional Craftsman of Traditional Craftwork, Kyoto Doll designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry.
The only Traditional Craftsman of Folding Screens for Hina Dolls.

Contemporary Master Craftsmen, like Nisei (the second) Kosho, make use of a new style based on the tradition of attire to produce superb articles of clothing.
The layers of the princesses’ hemline, in particular, broaden at regular intervals and project harmony among the beautiful colors.
Also, Kosho’s signature is his novel sense of color and style that always fit the present day trends, including designer brands.
Kosho received the Minister of Education’s Award in 1982 and also the Chairman of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Award in 1992.
Certified as a Traditional Craftsman of Traditional Craftwork, Edo Festival Doll designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry in 2010.

The predecessor took well-known Nihonbashigyokusai as his teacher and learned the classical form of Kanto Hina Doll making. He has a traditional and dignified style that sticks to the details of attire and makes use of the skill called Honjitate (two layers of Kimono).
He obtained the qualification of Traditional Craftsman, designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Governor in 2002.
He obtained the qualification of Taito-ku Traditional Craftsman in 2003.

Learning from his grandfather, the first Hosei, and his father, the second Hosei, he also learned from a sculptor who followed the example of the first Hosei.
Engaging in overall doll making, he continued to learn sculpture and won the Saitama Art Exhibition prize five times.
Received Tokyo Youth Meister in 1996.
Certified as Traditional Craftsman of Traditional Craftwork, Edo Festival Doll designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry

Familiar with doll making from infancy and attracted to Japanese traditional arts, he learned the basics from his father, the first Mataro.
After graduation from university, he learned drawing from the late Sawada Masahiro, became a member of the Japan Art Academy, and tried to sublimate the Mataro Doll.
In 1978, certified as a Traditional Craftsman of Traditional Craftwork, Edo Kimekomi Doll designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry.
To the present day, he produces a lot of original dolls, including Heian folk dolls.

Was apprenticed to his father, the second Syogyoku, and is a master craftsman, who expresses subdued color tone, original shape, and also Japanese ancient beauty.
Has a lot of award-winning records, such as winning the Prime Minister Award four times, the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Award four times, the Minister of Education Award four times, and the Best Technique Award, etc. at the National Festival Doll Contest.
At present, Certified as a Traditional Craftsman of Traditional Craftwork, Edo Kimekomi Doll designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Tokyo Traditional Craftsman designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Governor, regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association and Tokyo Meister.

Since early childhood, she has been familiar with the tradition of Edo Kimekomi Doll because she watched Traditional Craftsmen, her grandfather (the first Isshu, Kimura Bennosuke) and her mother (the second Isshu, Kimura Yasuko). She entered Isshu Company in 1997. After that, her mother, Yasuko, became her teacher and she started full-scale doll making.
Her graceful and new style is highly praised for its feminine, kind, and delicate viewpoints mixed with the sharp sense of the present age.

Born the first son of Arai Yoshio and raised in Iwatsuki, a doll city.
It was when he was an elementary school student that he made his first doll. He entered a doll dealing company in 1981 and learned about dolls, overall. In 1996, he was Certified as the youngest Traditional Craftsman of the Edo Kimekomi Doll.
In 2007, he received an award from the President of Kanto Traditional Craftsman Association.
He received a lot of awards, such as the Director of the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) Award.

Born in Tokyo. Learned from Living National Treasure, the late Hirata Goyo, Master Artist in the doll world.
He won the special commendation at the Asahi Contemporary Doll Exhibition in 1957.
Won the prize at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 1966.
Became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1969.
Became a member of the Kagami judging committee at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 1970.
Received Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1992.
Received the Fourth Order of the Precious Crown in 1999.
Currently presides over Tosaikai.
Regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association Special Member

Became independent after learning doll making from Shimizu Hachiro for over twenty years. Making use of the features of finishing and bright colors moved by the style of Kyoto tradition, he produced his own unique works of miniature cute dolls.

At the age of eighteen, started as a doll maker under her predecessor.
Uses ancient Japanese patterns to reproduce traditional beauty from the graceful Heian period.