Night, Mood and Grasshopper

​On this lacquer manju, a quiet, magical scene unfolds, filled with deep symbolism. We are seeing the quintessence of a Japanese autumn night, captured in precious maki-e.
​1. The Grasshopper (Kirigirisu)
​In Japan, grasshoppers and crickets are not just insects; they are the harbingers and the primary voice of autumn. Their melodic chirping, filling the evening air, is cherished just as birdsong is in spring.
This grasshopper isn’t just sitting on a branch—it is “gazing at the moon.” This transforms it into a tiny poet, a participant in Tsukimi (the tradition of moon-viewing). It embodies the ability to find profound beauty in the quiet, fleeting moments of nature.
​2. The Moon (Represented by the shimmering silver Hiramefun)
(Tsuki) in Japanese culture is a symbol of purity, tranquility, and the eternal cycle of time. The “moon” the grasshopper contemplates, depicted by me as shimmering stardust, represents not just a celestial body but the mystical, unfathomable beauty of the universe.
Also in Buddhism, the moon is also a metaphor for enlightenment—a pure, clear light shining in the darkness of ignorance.
​3. The Fireflies (Hotaru)
Fireflies are a powerful symbol of ephemerality and transient beauty (mono no aware). Their light is bright but brief. They add an element of magic and mystery to the scene. In Japanese folklore, they are also associated with souls or a passionate but short-lived love. Their living, moving lights create a beautiful contrast to the calm, eternal light of the contemplated moon.
​​​It is a story about the dialogue between the small and the vast: the tiny, mortal grasshopper (a symbol of autumn and fleeting life) pauses to contemplate the eternal, incomprehensible universe (the moon and night sky). The fireflies around them remind us that life itself, like its beauty, is but a flash in the darkness. The composition urges us to pause, listen to the “voice” of autumn, and appreciate the deep, quiet poetry of the fleeting moment.

Takamakie on Roiro-nuri, the relieves were done with Takamakie technique with Sumiko-Urushi and Ikkaki-Urush, Gold and silver Marufun, Kasumi: Abalon mother-of-pearl, Kanshitsu powder, silver Hiramefun, gold Nashiji. The size of this Manju netsuke is 2 inches across, ½ inch thick. 2009. Private collection.