Hakata dolls, a traditional craft of Fukuoka, are facing a decline, with the number of doll makers halved since the 1950s. However, Shinkyo and his son Hiromine Nakamura, from the century-old ‘Nakamura Ningyo’ family, continue to receive orders. Shinkyo (67), a leading figure in the industry, has won many awards, while Hiromine (38) is known for his innovative approach to Hakata doll-making. The doll makers in Hakata are most honored to make the ‘Kaki Yama,’ the ‘running Yamakasa’ at the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival. It is highly competitive, with no guarantee of future commissions. In 2023, Hiromine created dolls of Nagamasa Kuroda, the first lord of Fukuoka more than 400 years ago, and his famous father, Kanbee, for the festival. Nakamura’s family motto is ‘Never create the same thing as the previous generation’; Hiromine follows this by producing unique dolls each year. For the unveiling, he displayed the same-sized dolls of Nagamasa and Kanbee back to back. The people of Doi Nagare, who ordered the dolls, were deeply moved and amazed, saying, ‘The dolls are father and son, just like the doll makers.’