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Miss Shimane is by Iwamura Shōkensai, and her kimono bears the nadeshiko (large frilled pink carnation) crest.
Very little is known of this doll’s early history, where she was originally placed or for how long she remained on view to the public.
The current private owner purchased her in 1992 from a general antique doll dealer, knowing nothing about her status as one of the original 58 Japanese Friendship Dolls. It was through a fortuitous stream of circumstances that the Friendship Doll researcher, Rosie Skiles, was shown the doll in February of 1997, and was able to establish the doll’s identity as one of the missing Friendship Dolls.
Though she lacked all of her accessories and original display base, through her crest and comparison with archival newspapers and photos in Japan, she has been identified as the original Miss Shimane.