This sōsaku kokeshi bearing the inscription 伊豆大島 (Izu Ōshima) on its body, is attributed to Hitomi Noboru, a creative kokeshi artist known for merging traditional forms with imaginative elements. The doll features a painted floral motif on a red kimono, a serene and refined facial expression, and a charming pomegranate‑style ornament set into her coiffure, a detail that adds symbolic warmth and individuality to the piece.
Hitomi Noboru was active from Odawara City and began making kokeshi in the early 1930s. Hhe won the Prime Minister’s Award at the 3rd All‑Japan Kokeshi Contest in the late 1950s. He is described in collector circles as a creative / modern kokeshi maker.
His dolls are combine clean lines, strong wood grain visibility, and expressive paintwork, emphasize his “slim and cute” form with delicate faces and floral kimono designs.
