Profile

Whenever I make Kokeshi dolls, I feel the joy of being able to breathe life back into natural wood.

I make each piece by hand, with great care.
I put my heart and soul into making works that I can proudly present to the world.
What I always keep in mind when making kokeshi dolls is to create something solid, and to do so, I make efforts through study.

I want the kokeshi dolls I make to be confident and proud, no matter how far away they go. I send them out with the intention of saying, “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine,” and hope that they will continue to be loved forever.
I hope that the kokeshi dolls I make will be filled with love.
And I hope that the Kokeshi dolls I made will bring you love.

image_03_9181

Career

1964, Born in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture
1984, Entered Osaka University of Arts, majoring in textile design at the Department of Crafts. Conceived the idea of linking textiles and kokeshi dolls. Began sculptures.
1988, Began making kokeshi dolls under the guidance of my father, kokeshi artist Kunio Miyakawa, at the Miyakawa Kokeshi Dolls Factory.

Major Awards

Prime Minister’s Award
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award
Director-General of the Forestry Agency Award
Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Award
and many other awards