The netsuke is a toggle. Japanese men used netsuke to suspend various pouches and containers from their sashes by a silk cord. Netsuke had to be small and not too heavy, yet bulky enough to do the job. They needed to be compact with no sharp protruding edges, yet also strong and hard-wearing. Above all, they had to have the means for attaching a cord. Netsuke were made in a variety of forms, the most widely appreciated being the katabori (shape carving), a three-dimensional carving, such as this one in the form of a figure in European dress.

In 1543 the Portuguese arrived in Japan, followed by the Spaniards, Dutch and English. This resulted in an enormous interest in people with different physical characteristics, clothing, customs and accoutrements. By 1641, however, all Europeans had been expelled from Japan. The only exception was the Dutch, who were allowed to trade from the island of Dejima. The fascination with Europeans nevertheless continued, manifesting itself in the carving of figural netsuke with Western features during the late 17th and 18th centuries. These often presented a fusion of the many outside influences in Japan from the 16th century onwards, resulting in rather inaccurate depictions of foreigners. This particular netsuke of a Chinese or Japanese figure in contemporary European dress is a typical example.