An avid fan of kokeshi traditional handcrafted wooden dolls who has been traveling across the country to buy them has become a kokeshi craftsman working to preserve the tradition.
Toshio Takada, 53, quit his job and began training at a studio in Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture, after turning 40.
Despite his late start, he surprised others in 2017 when he was awarded the prime minister¡¯s prize, the top award, at the All Japan Kokeshi Competition held in the city.
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