Yuji Kawase – Contemporary Refinement in Sōsaku Kokeshi

Yuji Kawase (川瀬裕司, active since the 1980s) is a Japanese Sōsaku (creative) Kokeshi artist from Gunma Prefecture. He belongs to a later generation of makers who continue the creative Kokeshi tradition with a contemporary and refined visual language.

His work is characterized by a careful balance of form, line, and decoration. Kawase's Kokeshi convey a calm, harmonious presence, with close attention to proportion and brushwork. They align with the more restrained current within the modern Sōsaku movement.

Stylistic characteristics

• Slender to rounded silhouettes with flowing lines and balanced proportions

• Serene faces with a subtle smile and fine brushwork

• Decorative flower and leaf motifs in warm wood and earth tones

• Signature: 川瀬裕司, usually brush-signed on the base

Collectability

Kokeshi by Yuji Kawase are appreciated by collectors of contemporary Japanese Kokeshi for their quiet elegance, technical refinement, and timeless appeal.