Sea-port magazine
Sagemono / SAGEMONO
Japanese people like what they offer. In town, I often see students carrying key chains and charms in bags and key cases. They are treated like important amulets, or they reflect one's tastes and hobbies. Why do Japanese people like to carry things? There may be a reason for the netsuke that has been passed down since the Edo period.
Netsuke is closely related to the cigarettes that the Portuguese brought to Japan with guns. Tobacco was introduced and soon became a luxury item in Japanese life. And, it is said that it was born because it was said that it was smart to carry it among the wealthy people, so it was necessary to have a tool to carry cigarettes and gunpowder (gunpowder) on the waist. Later, netsuke was also used for the inro used by the samurai for formal wear, so the design and materials were devised and further development was achieved. It is presumed that one of the reasons for this is that the craftsmen who made weapons and the like after the end of the Warring States period and the arrival of the Taihei era poured their extraordinary techniques into netsuke production. It is a palm-sized work of art that you can see, touch, and feel the passion of craftsmen who lived in Edo.
There is a place where you can meet such netsuke.
It is "SAGEMONOYA" in Yotsuya. This gallery was established 30 years ago by the French representative Robert Fleischel (International Netsuke Society) from Japan.
Birth of netsuke / A history of Netsuke
: SAGEMONOYA:
〒160-0004
Tokyo 4-28-20 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku 704
tel: 03 (3352) 6286
https: //ja.netsuke.com
e-mail: sagemonoya@gol.com
: Even below, there is netsuke of "SAGEMONOYA" and some of the sagemono are handled:
<GINZA SIX 6th floor Ginza Tsutaya Netsuke corner>
〒104-0061
6-10-1, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
The charme of Netsuke
* Netsuke
Ornaments that were popular among men during the Edo period. It was used as a fastener to fix inro and cigarette holders to the hanging belt with a string.
Note: The names from the Edo period to the modern era are called "old netsuke", and the ones from the Showa era to the Heisei era are called "modern netsuke". This article introduces "old netsuke".
<< interview >>
SAGEMONOYA Managing Director
Yukari Yoshida
The sagemono shop is lined with humor, powerful sculptures, and rare Japanese art. The owner of the shop is Yukari Yoshida, who was told by Mr. Freschel that it was "netsuke size". He always talks with a smile, so he just stays longer. It seems that Mr. Yoshida decided to stand in the store after being introduced by an acquaintance, but he said that it was natural for him to be interested because he was familiar with Japanese literature from an early age.
The recognition of Netsuke
"The wonderful netsuke that was in Japan has flowed mainly to Europe with the opening of the country. The possible reasons for this are that the number of people who adopted Western clothing and wore kimono decreased in the Meiji era, and netsuke was a daily necessities. It's the difference between Japanese people and foreigners who evaluate it as a work of art for appreciation. "
There are many museums overseas that hold netsuke, and it is recognized as a representative work of art in Japan. On the other hand, in Japan, permanent exhibitions are held only in a few places such as the Tokyo National Museum, Kyoto Seisou Netsukekan, Shimizu Sannenzaka Museum, and Kusakabe Folk Museum, and I feel that the impression in Japan is weak. Netsuke is not a Buddhist sculpture that came from the continent, but a culture that originated in its own country.
If you are interested in netsuke, please make a reservation at "SAGEMONOYA". In recent years, mass-produced counterfeit products have been on the market, but the sagemono shop only sells genuine products. Unlike museums, you can actually touch it, and of course you can buy it. You will be surprised that many of them are from the Edo period but are reasonably priced.
We asked Mr. Yoshida about his favorite netsuke.
"I'm attracted to the tasteful netsuke. I also like the netsuke, which is cold at first but gets warmer and warmer."
Netsuke has a wide variety of materials such as ivory, deer horn, wood, and ceramics.
As Mr. Yoshida said, there are also metal materials that easily transfer heat from body temperature, so you can enjoy different textures for each individual.
"Some materials are no longer available."
From the point of view of materials as well as technique, it would be impossible to make exactly the same thing now. Netsuke is somewhat like a "person." This is because the value of being the only one in the world, the facial expressions that each person has, and the way they meet and interact with each other are different. The place where you can enjoy the silhouette from any angle, 360 degrees, is also attractive.
This time, we picked up "old netsuke", but even in recent years there are netsuke writers who make new netsuke ("modern netsuke"). Exhibitions centered on the Takamadomiya family's collections are held all over the country, including the contemporary netsuke of foreign artists.
After the interview, I wanted to find a netsuke like a talisman and a companion, if not a collector. I'm glad that you can wear it even though it's a work of art, or you can carry it in your bag or pocket. It used to be a men's ornament, but nowadays it is used by both men and women. Netsuke, which allows you to feel Japanese culture on your skin, will be appreciated even if you give it as a gift.
Phtography: KeitaGoto (w)
Text: Sea-port magazine