Kappa and toad hand-wrestling on a leaf

myminifactory

A netsuke is an ornate toggle or end piece that anchors a braided silk cord securely to the cloth sash of a traditional kimono, a garment once widely worn by Japanese men. Since kimonos had no pockets, personal belongings like money, tobacco, or medicines were carried in small pouches and decorative lacquered cases (inro) attached to a cord suspended from the kimono's sash. Netsuke served both a functional and aesthetic purpose. Most netsuke featured intricate designs carved from ivory or boxwood, an art form that evolved over many centuries and endures to this day. Animals, both real and fantastical, were common motifs for netsuke. In this whimsical example from the late nineteenth century, the mythological kappa or "boy of the river" engages a toad in hand wrestling. The kappa is a type of water sprite who despite its small size can cause significant harm to humans but is usually just mischievous. They possess a body like that of a turtle, limbs of a frog, and the head of a monkey or bird. A cup or depression on their heads holds a small amount of water which allows the kappa to briefly leave the rivers they inhabit. If the water spills the kappa will lose its power. This object was scanned by The Minneapolis Institute of Art.