Mid-20th century ichimatsu doll depicting a young girl seated in a kimono.

Ichimatsu ningyō feature delicate gofun skin, tinted with a soft pink hue, and wigs made from either human or horsehair. Gofun, a white lacquer made from a mixture of rice glue or animal glue and finely ground oyster, clam, or scallop shells, is commonly used to create the exposed "skin" of various traditional Japanese dolls, including Kimekomi, Hina, Ichimatsu, and Bunraku puppets. Typically applied to a wooden base or a wood composition known as toso, this technique gives the dolls their smooth, porcelain-like finish. The dolls' eyes are made of glass.