Bronze sculpture of lucanus (Lucanus maculifemoratus), a beetle insect found in northeast Asia.

Insects (mushi) play an important role in Japanese culture. Insect hunting is a popular pastime, especially among children. Using nets and cages, they catch cicadas, beetles and other insects for observation. In fact, mushi can be seen as familiar animals, playing a role in a child’s education: at first, the child will play with the ladybug, progressing as his or her education progresses to the complex task of hunting dragonflies, which requires a certain amount of skill.

Japan – Meiji Era (1868-1912)

Width: 1.97 in / 5 cm – depth: 3.15 in / 8.3 cm – height: 0.39 in / 1.4 cm