Netsuke Exhibit at Japanese Garden

Portland Japanese Garden offers a new exhibit, “Masterpieces in Miniature: The Art of Netsuke Sculptures,” on display in the Pavilion Gallery through March 4.  Once immensely popular across Japan, netsuke (pronounced nets-keh) were miniature sculptures that also served as personal fashion accessories, overcoming the lack of pockets in men’s clothing by hanging small items from a kimono sash. What started as simple accessories evolved into beautiful and complicated sculptures created in a variety of materials over two hundred years during Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868). The garden is open Wednesdays to Mondays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The garden is closed on Tuesdays. The exhibit is included with admission: $21.95 for adults, $18.95 for seniors, $17.95 for students, $15.95 for children and free for ages 5 and under.