Tosogu / Inro / Netsuke / Okimono

Tōsōgu 刀装具 refers to the artistic, decorative, and functional metal fittings used on traditional Japanese swords. 

Key components of Tōsōgu include:

Tsuba 鍔: The hand guard situated between the blade and the handle. It protected the hands and balanced the weapon.

Fuchi-Kashira 縁頭: The collar and pommel that secure the hilt (tsuka).

Menuki 目貫: Ornamental metal pieces placed under the handle wrap to improve grip and add aesthetic flair.

Kozuka  小柄 & Kōgai  笄: A small utility knife and a decorative hairpin stored in the scabbard. Artisans used materials like iron, copper, bronze, and specialized alloys like shakudo (copper and gold) and shibuichi (copper and silver).

An inro 印籠 is a traditional Japanese case for holding small objects, suspended from the obi (sash) worn around the waist when wearing a kimono. 


They are often highly decorated with various materials such as lacquer and various techniques such as maki-e, and are more decorative than other Japanese lacquerware.


Because traditional Japanese dress lacked pockets, objects were often carried by hanging them from the obi in containers known as sagemono (a hanging object attached to a sash). Most sagemono were created for specialized contents, such as tobacco, pipes, writing brush and ink, but the type known as inro is suitable for carrying small things, and was created in the Sengoku period (1467–1615) as a portable identity seal and medicine container for travel.

Netsuke are small Japanese sculptures, originally designed to decorate traditional clothing accessories. The word netsuke is formed of two Japanese characters:

根 (ne) meaning root 

付 (tsuke) meaning attached

Netsuke were crafted as a type of toggle to open and close a small pouch called an Inro, as kimono robes did not feature pockets. Over time, this functional item became more elaborate and detailed, before finally becoming an established artistic medium. Typically hand carved in wood or ivory, netsuke have been produced for hundreds of years. Most popular during Japan’s Edo period (1603-1867), netsuke began to decline in use and production during the late 19th century as clothes became less traditional and their functionality was no longer required. 

An okimono 置物 may be a small Japanese carving, similar to, but larger than netsuke. Unlike netsuke, which have a specific purpose, okimono are purely decorative and are displayed in the tokonoma. This view has however sometimes been questioned, with some suggesting that okimono often had both utilitarian and decorative purposes, especially before Western influence. An okimono can be made out of wood, ivory, ceramic or metal.


One subcategory of okimono is the jizai okimono, an articulated figure, typically of an animal, made out of bronze or iron. Okimono are normally not larger than a few centimetres. They depict all sorts of animals, mythological beasts, humans, gods, fruit, vegetables and objects, sometimes combined with each other, in all sorts of positions. Sometimes a scene is portrayed as well, either a daily scene or from a story.