Plants and Flowers in Tokyo by Kei Narujima　　東京の草花 - なるじまけい: Netsuke and Jello

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is a 4cm tall netsuke sculpture titled "Goldfish," made from amber with makie painting by Masayuki Hariya, a Japanese netsuke carver and makie painter, at Tokyo National Museum.

"Goldfish," amber and makie by Masayuki Hariya
「金魚」琥珀・蒔絵、針谷祐之

The netsuke below of a similar size is titled "Goldfish," too, carved from ivory by Godo Abe. It's also on show at Tokyo National Museum.

"Goldfish," ivory by Godo Abe
「金魚」象牙、阿部悟堂

And look at the two goldfish below made of yokan, thick agar-made Japanese jellos, swimming in a muscat grape jello!

Goldfish jello in grape jello! - Minamoto Kitchoan
源吉兆庵金魚

Goldfish reminds me of Yamato koriyama city, which is known for the cultivation of goldfish, in Nara prefecture, a place which I want to move to after retirement and had visited twice a year for almost ten years until the outbreak of Covid-19, but I haven't and don't think I can this year!

Japan has "goldfish plant." If you want to know what "goldfish flower" is like, read this post, too!

For more about netsuke, read the following posts, too!
- Symbol of Peace? - Netsuke & Halloween
- Japanese Saying: Netsuke Titled "A-Hum"!
- Netsuke - Japanese Lovelorn Ghost Puts a Curse Saying "Urameshiya..."
- Kawaii Two-Legged Yokai Goblin Netsuke Sculpture

- Kawaii Netsuke Jedi

- Watermelon Netsuke Carving With Makie Lacquer Painting
- Netsuke - Jurojin God
- Netsuke - Dog Days

- Netsuke - Muskmelon

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１枚目　根付　「金魚」針谷祐之氏作　琥珀と蒔絵

２枚目　根付　「金魚」阿部悟堂氏作　象牙

３枚目　和菓子「金魚」源吉兆庵作　　赤い羊羹の金魚がマスカットゼリーの中を泳いでます。

１枚目と３枚目、根付と和菓子で全くの別物ですが何か似てません？どちらもとっても涼しげ！でも「金魚」→「大和郡山（金魚の養殖で知られた町）」→「奈良」と連想が続きがっくり😭。ここ１０年、年２回は訪れ、ゆくゆくは移住したいのに、今年はコロナでまだ行けていません。

ちなみに「キンギョ」ソウについても以前書いています。キンギョソウの英語名と花言葉にご興味ある方は「キンギョソウはおしゃべり！」もどうぞお読みください。

根付がお好きな方は以下の記事もどうぞ！

- 平和の象徴？「根付とハロウィン」