Netsuke is actually two words..."ne" and "tsuke", which when translated to English means "root for fastening". In fact, originally it may have been a root that the first Netsuke was made from. Necessity is the mother of invention...and the Netsuke is no exception. Every one needs a way to carry personal items with them. Whether money, keys, chops, or tobacco; we need them with us. The Kimono, having no pockets, presented the problem. Items had to be carried in pouches or small purses. At first they were simply tied to the Obi. (sash) This freed one's hands, but in order to open the pouch it had to be untied from the Obi, then retied again. At some point someone discovered that if you tied a piece of a stick or root to the end of the string holding the pouch, it could be slipped under the obi and held in place. To remove the pouch you simply slide the stick or root back under the obi. As with most other personal items, these sticks and roots began to evolve into more and more decorative items. Eventually it developed into an art form which has outlasted the function for which it was intended. Today the Kimono has been replaced with western clothes and items are carried in pocket, but the art of Netsuke carving lives on.

Netsuke have been created from many different materials, the most popular being ivory. Ivory is perhaps the perfect medium for carving intricate works of art. It is soft enough to be worked with hand tools, yet strong enough to endure time and use. There is also something special about the soft glow of Ivory that makes it irresistible. Since the ban on the international trade of Elephant Ivory, many substitutes have come into use. The closest and most valuable of these is Mammoth Ivory. Mammoth Ivory is from the tusks of the Wooly Mammoth, the ancestor / cousin to the present day elephants. The mammoth roamed most of the Northern Hemisphere for thousands of years before becoming extinct during the last ice age. The tusks ( and many complete skeletons ) have been preserved in the glaciers throughout Asia and Alaska. Most of the mammoth ivory used in Asian art comes from Siberia.

Hippo Ivory is the next most valuable ( and popular ) of the materials used in contemporary Netsuke. Hippo Ivory is the tusks and teeth of the Hippopotamus. There are to primary sources for Hippo Ivory. The tusks can grow to over a foot in length, and grow very rapidly. These tusks break off during fights over territory and mates. New tusks soon grow to replace the lost ones. Because they inhabit shallow ponds and rivers, these tusks can be picked up along the river banks throughout Africa. This is the primary source. Additionally, Hippos in Zoos throughout the world generally have their tusks cut down to prevent injury to other Hippos. This provides the second source. Ivory, by definition, is the teeth or tusks of any mammal. This would also include Whales and Walruses. (Marine Ivory)

Cattle bone is also used to produce low cost netsuke, and provides a material for the students to work with while they develop their skills.

Wood has always been a popular medium for carving Netsuke. Boxwood was most common wood used in early pieces. It is a very tight grained wood that is easily carved. Many other woods are now used including Teak and Ironwood. Of the three main woods used to make Netsuke, Teak is the most expensive followed by Ironwood then Boxwood. Buffalo Horn has also very popular because of its ability to hold a bright polish. The luster of polished horn rivals black lacquer in brightness and shine.