Yasuo Okazaki (1954-)

System: Naruko system

Master: Hitoshi Okazaki

Disciple: Kaoru Tanabe

[People] Born on January 3, 1950, to Niji Okazaki, a kokeshi doll maker, in Shinyashiki, Naruko-cho, Tamatsukuri-gun, Miyagi Prefecture, the eldest son of the island. His grandfather was Saikichi Okazaki. His father, Niji, opened Okazaki Shoten in Shinyashiki and manufactured kokeshi dolls. Her mother Shima also painted kokeshi dolls, but she passed away in 1975 at the age of 44.

After graduating from Furukawa High School in 1971, Yasuo trained as a woodturner under his father, Niji, and began making kokeshi dolls.Since then, he has been consistently involved in making kokeshi dolls.

After his father Jinji passed away in 2004, he took over Okazaki Shoten (Kokeshi no Hitoshi Okazaki) and has been making kokeshi dolls in the store's workshop.