The Japanese belt accessories for men known as netsuke aroused great interest in Europe already at the end of the 19th century. Today they have become special, highly-prized collector’s items all over the world. 

The main subjects are mythical creatures, gods of popular religion, and exotic animals and also depictions of Europeans, particularly Dutchmen, who fascinated the Japanese in the 18th and 19th century. The craftsmanship is of incomparable perfection, and the materials include boxwood, ivory, horn, coral, tortoise-shell and much else. Famous artists like Yoshimura Shûzan (1700–1773) and Ohara Mitsuhiro (1810–1878) created masterpieces which strongly influenced this art form.