December 2012 Adventure 5 12月の冒険5

At this point we were still in the Akiu Craft Park, and after buying my one and only Akiu kokeshi I rounded up the girls who were still playing in the snow and we went to Mr. Suzuki Akira's 鈴木明さん kokeshi shop right across the street. We had been here before and really loved Mr. Suzuki's kokeshis and his shop, so we went in again to see what was new. I'll let you see for yourself with the pictures below, but I have to explain that he is apparently the last person who makes this style of Sakunami kokeshis 作並系こけし, a very old design that he learned from his father. Interestingly, Mr. Suzuki has a deshi 弟子 (apprentice) who for the next few years will be learning how to make this traditional style of kokeshi. That was really good news! Unfortunately she wouldn't let me take her picture, but we will undoubtedly see her making kokeshis with her own lathe sometime in the near future.

These are little tiny guys.

So are these.

An original Suzuki design.

Chubby kokeshis.

This, believe it or not, is by Naoko and Emily. 

The interior of the shop.

Mr. Suzuki coated and is drying the kokeshi that Lena designed.

Naoko and a giant Suzuki kokeshi lantern.

And finally, a few of Mr. Suzuki's Christmas kokeshis. Did Naoko get one of these?

Of course we bought a few pieces, including a very nice traditional Sakunami design, and then said to goodbye to Mr. Suzuki. We hopped in the car and it was off to the final phase of our great December kokeshi adventure -- Yajiro!