Masae Fujikawa – Elegant Gunma Sōsaku Kokeshi

Masae Fujikawa (藤川正衛, 1942–2015) was a Japanese kokeshi-shi from Gunma Prefecture, widely regarded as an important figure within the Sōsaku (creative) Kokeshi movement.

He began his training as a woodturner at a young age and was active as a Kokeshi artist from the late 1950s onward. Fujikawa gained recognition for his harmonious forms, refined finishing, and his ability to balance decoration with visual calm.

He received the Prime Minister's Award twice, an exceptional achievement that confirms his status as a master within the Japanese Kokeshi world.

Stylistic characteristics

• Slender, well-balanced forms with a calm and refined presence

• Floral decorations, often rendered in red, black, and natural wood tones

• Fine brushwork with close attention to symmetry and rhythm

• An aesthetic in which softness and precision coexist

• Signature: 藤川正衛 on the base, sometimes accompanied by a label

Collectability

Kokeshi by Masae Fujikawa are highly sought after by collectors, particularly:

• well-preserved examples

• pieces with pronounced floral decoration

• works with a clear, undamaged signature

His work is appreciated for its timeless elegance and stands as a prime example of the refined Gunma style within the Sōsaku tradition.