Inro (also plural) are a traditional Japanese hard-sided container for small objects. It is suspended from the obi (cloth sash) worn around the waist of the kimono (especially men’s). Obi for daily wear were undecorated and functioned much like a bathrobe belt to hold the robe from flapping open. Inro are highly decorated in various materials and techniques. Today, prime examples command huge prices.
Ojime. Inro have several separate nested sections (usually 3-5) to separate contents. They fit together snugly and are kept tightly closed by an ojime—a bead or small carving that slides down the cord to close all sections securely.
Netsuke (also singular) are miniature sculptures highly valued in 17th-century (Edo period) Japan to serve a practical function. The name is pronounced in Japanese without the “u”—nets’ke: “tsuke” means “to attach.” Since traditional Japanese garments have no pockets, an inro hung on cords between the obi and robe (as though between a belt and the pants in the West), with the ojime below the obi (belt) and the netsuke holding it above the obi. The inro was thus held in place by the netsuke cord looped behind the obi..
Netsuke, like the inrō and ojime, evolved from strictly utilitarian into expressive works, representing extraordinary craftsmanship in miniature. The subjects included all manner of people, animals, and natural objects) and were chosen to reflect Japanese folklore and life. Netsuke were especially popular during the Edo period. Today, the art lives on, and even modern works can command high prices. They are widely collected, and every museum containing Japanese antiques contains its own collection of netsuke.
