The first comprehensive publication on the prodigious and extraordinary Japanese netsuke carver Kokusai (1835–1894). A milestone in netsuke scholarship: 258 generously illustrated entries make this the largest single assemblage of Kokusai’s work, which, combined with information on the artist’s colourful life, provide a fascinating insight into 19th-century Japan.

Paul Moss is director of Sydney L. Moss, a prestigious London gallery specializing in Chinese and Japanese art. Kokusai’s remarkable skill and colourful life has captivated three generations of the Moss family but none more than Paul, who for decades has been Kokusai’s greatest champion.