Vintage Japanese Kokeshi Shikishi – Ryosuke Saito | Togatta

This vintage Japanese shikishi (色紙) was hand-painted by Ryosuke Saito (斎藤良輔, 1925–2015), a traditional Kokeshi craftsman associated with the Togatta tradition.

At the centre is an elongated traditional Kokeshi rendered in bold brushstrokes of red, black and soft green. Its striking head decoration and floral body motifs reflect the characteristic visual language of Togatta Kokeshi.

The inscription in the lower left reads 遠刈田 良輔 – Togatta, Ryosuke, accompanied by a red artist's seal. A second red seal appears in the upper right corner.

Ryosuke Saito was born in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima, in 1925. After marrying Yaeko, daughter of Kokeshi craftsman Sato Kichiya (佐藤吉弥), he moved to Togatta and began training in woodturning. From 1958 he also studied traditional Kokeshi painting under Kichiya. Following his master's death, he and his wife continued the family workshop, and Saito remained active as a Kokeshi craftsman until around 2007.

He is classified within the Togatta-kei (遠刈田系) tradition and became an important successor to the style of his teacher Sato Kichiya.

On this shikishi, the characteristic forms and floral brushwork of his Kokeshi are transferred directly onto a traditional Japanese shikishi board.

The shikishi shows visible age-related spotting and discolouration, as shown in the photographs.

Dimensions: 24 × 27 cm

Want to learn more about shikishi, their history and their special connection to Kokeshi makers? Explore the Tamashii Guide to Shikishi.

Every vintage piece in our collection has a story and carries traces of its past. We kindly ask you to look carefully at the photos for an honest impression of its condition and any signs of use.