This Showa period netsuke by Ouchi Sosui (1911–1972) depicts a mischievous oni tucked beneath an oversized hat, showcasing the artist's skillful carving technique in miniature form. The composition demonstrates the playful humor characteristic of traditional Japanese netsuke, small sculptural objects that served both practical and decorative purposes as fasteners for garments. Sosui's work exemplifies the continued vitality of this traditional art form during the twentieth century, when many netsuke artists adapted classical subject matter with refined craftsmanship.