Draft:Sakichi Kataoka

Sakichi Kataoka (片岡佐吉, Sakichi Kataoka , born 1945) is a famous Japan doll collector and art director..

He is a collector of antique dolls, spherical articulated dolls, Japanese Ichimatsu dolls, creative dolls, etc., and the owner of the doll museum "Maria's Heart". He is also known as a photographer  and director who takes pictures of dolls.

Official Homepage

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Career
Born in Yubari, Hokkaido, he grew up in Sapporo, and Setagaya, Tokyo.

In 1978, he opened "Ningyo-ya SAKICHI" (mean Doll Shop Sakichi) in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, and began collecting dolls in earnest.

In 1984, he opened an Omotesando store in Tokyo, but closed out after operating to 2010 due to the demolition of the Hanae Mori Building. The entrance door of the store, which was created by Katan Amano, was removed and preserved when leaving.

In 2001, the "Doll Museum Maria Croce" opened in Moto-Asakusa, Tokyo.

From 2004 to 2011, the doll museum "Maria's Heart" opened in Shibuya, Tokyo. Many celebrities visited.

From 2016 to 2018, Maria's Heart was reopened in Ginza 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.

In 2015, part of the collection was moved to a Japan house in Ohara, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto.

The Sapporo store, which was set up in the center of Sapporo and gave off a different spatial atmosphere, closed in 2014. It was a well-known building in the local area, but after it closed, it was demolished and the site was turned into a parking lot.

Currently, Ohara in Kyoto is the base of "Maria's Heart" and holds exhibitions on an irregular basis.

Related Persons
Kataoka's discovery of creative doll artists

Katan Amano (天野可淡, Katan Amano, 1953 - 1990)

Kataoka became a promoter after paying attention to the creative skills and talent  of her early on. After her death, he bought back her works, and in 2002 held her first solo exhibition after her death.

Koitsukihime (恋月姫, Koitsukihime, born 1955)

Kataoka named her creative doll "Koitsukihime" (Means the princess of the moon in love) because she liked it and chose it as the artist's name. As a business partner of Kataoka, she also bought dolls and negotiated with artists on his behalf.

Relatives who are active in various fields

Sho Kataoka (片岡翔), screenwriter of Japan films and dramas

Sugoroku Kataoka (片岡双六), Magisian

Celebrities with whom his friends

Suehiro Maruo (丸尾末広), Japanese manga artist illustrator, and painter.

Yukito Ayatsuji (綾辻行人), Japanese writer of mystery and horror.

Rune Naito (内藤ルネ), Japanese artist, illustrator, writer, and designer.

Nobara Takemoto (嶽本野ばら), Japanese author, and fashion designer.

Kokushoku-Sumire (黒色すみれ), Japan Retro Music Units.