Shrimp, Jizai-okimono

At the end of the Edo Period (mid 19th century), Westerners who came to Japan took an interest in the jizai-okimono, which became popular souvenirs. As with netsuke, it was the detailed workmanship of the jizai-okimono, at which Japanese excelled, that captured the hearts of the Westerners. Then after the turmoil died down in the Meiji Period, the metal smiths and armorers lost their jobs due to the prohibition of swords and the introduction of Western life styles. In this context, the production of jizai-okimono flourished.