Kappa and toad hand-wrestling on a leaf, second half 19th century, Suzuki Masanao, Japanese, 1815 - 1890, 1 1/2 in. (3.81 cm), Boxwood, Japan, 19th century, A netsuke is a toggle or end piece that anchors a braided silk cord to the cloth sash of a kimono, a garment once commonly worn by Japanese men. Because kimonos had no pockets, personal belongings such as money, tobacco, or medicines were carried in small pouches and decorative lacquered cases (inro) attached to a cord which was suspended from the kimono's sash. Netsuke served both a practical and decorative function. Most netsuke featured intricate designs carved from ivory or boxwood, an art form which developed over many centuries and continues to the present day.