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The Origin of Japanese Figures: From Edo-Era Netsuke 根付 to Modern Collectibles

 

Japan is famous around the world for its incredible figure culture. Today, characters from anime, manga, and video games are made into highly detailed collectible figures that are admired by millions of fans. But the Japanese tradition of creating small, detailed figures did not begin in modern times. Its roots can be traced back hundreds of years to the Edo period and the art of netsuke.

 

Netsuke were small carved sculptures originally used as practical accessories. Since traditional Japanese kimono had no pockets, people carried small items such as medicine cases, tobacco pouches, and inrō suspended from their belts. A netsuke served as a toggle to prevent these items from slipping through the obi sash.

 

Over time, netsuke evolved from simple tools into miniature works of art. Skilled craftsmen, called netsukeshi 根付師, carved animals, people, legendary creatures, and scenes from everyday life using materials such as wood, ivory, and antler. The level of detail achieved in objects only a few centimeters in size was extraordinary.

 

Although modern anime figures and Edo-period netsuke serve very different purposes, they share the same Japanese appreciation for creating an entire world within a small object. In many ways, the netsuke craftsmen of the Edo period can be considered the ancestors of today’s figure artists.