Entertainer with a monkey – netsuke

The term netsuke literally means “to root” referring to the function of the netsuke fasteners, which were attached by cords to kimono obi sashes. Besides being elaborately detailed, netsuke fasteners were typically dynamic and funny, like in this case. Performances by monkey entertainers sarumawashi (monkey dancing) were a popular folk pastime; monkeys were also cast as characters in the most popular scenes from well-known theatre plays, and therefore did not feature only in musical-acrobatic or dancing performances.