Netsuke/Ojime - Wild Boar, Baby Boars 根付/緒締め - 猪, うりぼう

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

This is an "ojime" titled "Wild boar, baby boars," carved from stag antler, boxwood and buffalo horn by Nick Lamb, an English netsuke/ojime carver.

"Wild boar, baby boars" by Nick Lamb
「猪, うりぼう」ニック・ラム作

Ojime are beads traditionally used to secure the inro, a small box worn at the waist used to carry personal belongings. (Source: Museum Selection)

These mommy (or daddy?) and baby ojime at Tokyo National Museum reminded me of my late grandma.

She was tall for a Japanese woman, over 5.3 feet, eating, laughing, and working a lot!! She walked a lot, too, commuting to her office and going to grocery stores on foot everyday because she lived near the top of a small mountain in Hiroshima. In short, she was a physically and mentally strong, cheerful working woman. But every spring once a year, she sighed, complaining about baby boars eating bamboo shoots growing behind her house. She loved this local delicacy and baby boars knew where they could find them and when to eat.

Baby boars are called in Japanese "gourd boys" (not "good" boys!!) because they are striped as Japanese melons, which are called "makuwa gourds" in Japan. After finding bamboo shoots eaten up by baby boars, she always said, "Oh again, gourd boys, but it can't be helped..." I don't know how she knew that gourd boys were responsible for this vandalism.... 

I remembered her also because it was the obon period, i.e., mid-August. In Japan, ancestors (are said to) come back to this world during the obon period and according to the old Japanese calendar, it is supposed to be autumn after that period, which I can't believe! It's still too hot and humid🥵  

If you are a netsuke lover, you will surely enjoy the netsuke sculptures listed below!

- 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
- Netsuke and Jello - Goldfish
- Netsuke/Ojime - Wild Boar, Baby Boars
- Gourds in Various Forms - Netsuke, Pickle.....
- Netsuke - Sheep
- Netsuke - Boss
- Netsuke - Fukurokuju God 

- Ofuku (Netsuke) & Okonomiyaki (Japanese Savory Pancake)

- Netsuke - Daruma and Tengu

- Netsuke - Wind and Thunder Gods, Masks, and Blowfish🐡

- Netsuke "Eating Toffee" - Is It A Toad or Frog?

- Netsuke "Bodhidharma (Daruma)"

- Netsuke - "Ground Cherry" Is Scary😱

- Netsuke "Nue" (Legendary Monster😱)

- Netsuke "Carps" - Is Japanese Vague?

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東京国立博物館のニック・ラム氏作の緒締め「猪, うりぼう」です。緒締め、ご存じでしたか？ 私は知りませんでした。「袋・巾着などの口にまわした緒を束ねて締めるための具。多くは球形で、玉・石・角・練り物などで作る」だそうです。（デジタル大辞泉）

うりぼうと聞いて亡き祖母を思い出しました。小さな山に住んでいたのですが、毎春、筍の季節になると裏山の筍を根こそぎ食べられ「瓜坊にやられた｡｡｡」とため息をついてました。どうして犯人が瓜坊と分かったのかは謎です。ちなみに瓜坊の瓜は甜瓜のことだそうです。

お盆、終わりました。いつになったら秋の気配を感じられるのでしょうか🥵｡｡｡

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