Whispers of the Wood: The Last Kokeshi Master

Hidden in the snow-draped mountains of Tōhoku, Takumi Sano spends his days coaxing spirit from wood. With a single blade and a century-old lathe, he carves kokeshi dolls so hauntingly beautiful, locals say they dream of them before they’re born. In a time of mass production, Sano’s work is a quiet rebellion — each doll a vessel of memory, emotion, and a vanishing way of life. His art isn’t just tradition. It’s devotion.