Suigai Sato

  • Born to a family owning silk trading business in Okubo, Yoshioka Village, Kita Gunma County, Gunma Prefecture.
  • Previously pursued careers in fashion design and engineering and mechanics.
    In 1938 at the age of 18, he began his career as a Japanese painter.
  • Sato became a member of Teihitsugi Artist Association (Tatebayashi Gunma) and studied under both Suiun Komuro and later Jiun Arai, Komoro’s brother. Upon Jiun’s death, he studied under Tsuneo Takahashi of the same association.
  • In 1948, following the war, Sato began pursuing the art of modern kokeshi.
    Hallmarks of Sato’s distinguished career include:

Japan Kokeshi Doll Contest Awards (Japan Agriculture Craft Artist Association)

  • 1959 Japan Kokeshi Doll Contest Artist Association Chairman’s Award “Pinfu” (Peace)
  • 1960 Japan Kokeshi Doll Contest Tokyo Metropolitan Governor’s Award “Yancha”
  • 1966 Japan Kokeshi Doll Contest Prime Minister’s Award “Omoi Shizukani”
  • 1968 Japan Kokeshi Doll Contest Chrysanthemum Award (15th Anniversary) “Nagori"

Gunma Kokeshi Contest Awards

  • 1963 – Present Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Award
  • Gunma Prefecture Governor’s Award
  • Maebashi City Mayor’s Award
  • Ministry of Economy and Trade, Director General’s Award
  • NHK Award
  • Nikkei Newspaper Award
  • Many awards from the Mayors hosting contests
  • Jyomo Newspaper Award
  • Other awards from various newspaper companies and other
    organizations

Japanese Painting and Kokeshi Doll Artist

  • Won a prize at the Japan Painters Institute Exhibition
  • Won a prize at the Japan Water Painting Exhibition and Nanga Exhibition
  • League Exhibition Mukansa
  • Associate Member of Gunma Artists Association
  • Japan Kokeshi Traditional Arts Coterie (Chairman, Living National Treasure, Daizou
    Nishide Sensei)
  • Member of Gunma Kokeshi Cooperative
  • Sato’s artistry has been recognized by Japan’s Imperial family. Crown Prince Akihito (now Emperor Akihito) purchased the “Amaenbou” and “Yumemiru Koro.” Crown Princess Michiko viewed the “Miyabi” in 1983 upon visiting the 38th Akagi National Athletic Meet.

Waga michi (My Way)

Article originally appeared in the Japanese magazine Tokimeki Gunma, Winter 1992, direct translation

Suigai Sato (72), a kokeshi artist who has pursued this path for 50 years carefully paints the creative kokeshi “Seishin” (solemn mind) at Kokeshi no sato Suigetsu, located in Yoshioka Town, Kita Gunma County. The profile of Suigai is rigid as he puts his heart and soul into the original wood. But when he stares at the kokeshi, the sharp look in his eyes becomes softened.

He was born in the town of Yoshioka where his parents ran a silk business. At the age of 14, he left for Tokyo and achieved many techniques as a mechanic. At the same time, he studied under Suiun Komoro, an artist from Tatebayashi, as he was attacked to the Japanese painting from his childhood. He won prizes in exhibitions as he proved his skills in painting. Suigai returned to Gunma at the age of 20 to be sent to war and when his father died after the war, he raised seven siblings by making silk material from the cocoons, selling the equipment and paintings for the fusuma.

Suigai was impressed when he heard about unknown world of “kokeshi,” and finished his first kokeshi when he was 24. The wonderful skills and accurate skills that he possessed from the Japanese painting, the fine choice of colors, and the wealth of expressions soon made Suigai a highly valued kokeshi artist throughout Japan’s tourist sites as he made his way to become an artist. Suigai’s dream was to become “the owner and independent by the age of 31”, as his dreams came true when he built his own kokeshi studio.

Suigai won the Prime Minister’s Award in 1966 at the National Kokeshi Contest with many more to follow. He was given the honor to use his kokeshi as a gift to the senior citizens from the Governor on the ‘Respect for the Aged Day’. He is referred to as ‘ the steam engine for design’ for his creativities that he has a sketch book for designs by his bed. He says, there are times that the concept for design strike him early in the morning.

The kingdom of modern kokeshi, Gunma, whose national share of production is 70%, faces the issue of successors, but Sugai says, “the art is only good for one generation, making kokeshi was a vocation for me” as he talks about the reality that is difficult. “I want to expand the true beauty of kokeshi which is a traditional industry of this district through exhibitions,” said Sugai, whose fighter spirit never cease to fail.

Suigai’s eternal theme is simple flowers, the kindness of women and the cuteness of children. “I’d like to pursue making the dolls that makes one feel at ease and convey my appreciations eternally.”