register here.

Takatoshi Hayashi is a kokeshi maker who lives and works in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi prefecture, Japan. After his home city was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, Hayashi started making kokeshi that are based on forms of traditional kokeshi--a wooden doll of a round face and slender body made by lathe--infusing them with imaginative designs drawn from pop culture. His kokeshi brand "Ishinomaki Kokeshi" is dubbed as "kawaii" ("cute") and attracts many Japanese and international fans. In this intimate conversation, Hayashi and UMMA's Curator of Asian Art, Natsu Oyobe, will talk about the history of kokeshi, its regional differences using UMMA's traditional kokeshi collection, and how his creation relates to the tradition and the memories of the earthquake.

Also look for the Tree Tree Ishinomaki Pop-up at the UMMA Shop!  The UMMA Shop will feature a selection of Takotoshi Hayashi’s signature kokeshi designs available for sale beginning late March 2021.