Usaburo Okamoto, the founder of Usaburo Kokeshi, was born in Shinto in 1917 and started to make kokeshi in 1950. He invented new styles by introducing techniques that use special machines as well as a manufacturing method using a wheel, and combined painting with a brush with carving and poker drawing methods.
At present, the studio has six woodworkers responsible for design, all of whom studied under Usaburo, the founder, and who are enthusiastic about handing down the techniques of kokeshi artisans to the next generation.
