This small doll, representing a woman in a kimono holding a shamisen, is made almost entirely from silk moth cocoons, with some bamboo possibly used on the shamisen and at the neck for support. The woman's kimono is purple with a floral pattern of flowers and leaves in white, green, and yellow. She wears geta sandals with a red v-strap. Her obi sash is turquoise and yellow with a fan tucked into it. She wears a yellow hat with red lines, possibly meant to mimic stitching. Her hair, eyes, and eyebrows are painted black and her lips are painted red. There is pink blush on her face, near her eyes. The doll is mounted on a black base.
The shamisen or samisen (literally "three strings"), is a three-stringed, Japanese musical instrument played with a plectrum called a bachi.
