This gorgeous kokeshi wears a blue kimono with red, green and yellow accents. The delicate white patterns on the deep blue background represent Moonflowers blooming under a night sky. She is called Yūgao – the kanji “夕顔” literally translates to “evening face” or “evening glory,” referring to the white moonflower (Ipomoea alba)or evening-glory, a flower that blooms at night and is often associated with transient beauty in Japanese literature, most famously in The Tale of Genji.
In The Tale of Genji, “Yūgao” (Evening Faces) is the title of the fourth chapter and the name of a tragic, mysterious lover of Prince Genji. She represents fleeting beauty, taking her name from a delicate, white flower that blooms in the twilight and withers quickly.
The rounded “egg” shape is a modern variation of the classic cylindrical Kokeshi, often used by award-winning artists from Gunma Prefecture, such as those from the Sekiguchi or Usaburo workshops.
Her specifications are:
Height: 9 cm
Weight: 200 grams
