Kuroda Nagamasa
The commonly accepted origin of Hakata dolls is 17th-century Hakata. Artisans including Souichi Masaki produced in clay, as offerings to Buddhist temples or as gifts to Kuroda Nagamasa, the ruler of Hakata at that time. Hakata also has a famous festival, Hakata Gion Yamakasa, which involves decorated "ningyō" (doll) floats. The floats are made from wood, but it is believed that the method of production of these floats strongly influenced the Hakata doll.