Traditional Japanese Art for a Bright Future "Signs of Good Fortune" from the collection of Susan Tosk

The carved wood netsuke is by the artist Masakazu of Nagoya (d. 1886).

Shoki captures the oni by placing a large straw hat over him, and one can see the grimacing face of the oni; the viewer is delighted to see the whole body of the oni only by picking up the netsuke to examine the entire sculpture. The oni personifies sickness and misfortune, so Shoki defeating him implies health and good fortune. Shoki has double-inlaid eyes to show great expression.