In the mood for love (Netsuke series #1)

My mum got me interested in collecting Japanese netsuke when I was in my late teens. She had a fine collection of several dozen very old netsuke but they were all lost in That Damn Earthquake. As I only had a few left, I stashed them away so carefully some 20 years ago that I couldn't remember where I put them. After giving them up for lost, I found them again the other day. Inside a metal box of recipes, next to a jar of old sunglasses, where else? There was much whooping and jumping for joy, I can tell you. Assuming this doesn't offend the censors, I may blip more in the coming days.

I'm sure you've had more than enough hearts and flowers, so this piece of shunga, or erotic netsuke is my contribution to Valentine's day here. If you look closer you'll see it's a man in sexual congress with a woman in a kimono. The details are very fine and it really is quite a lovely piece.

If romance is in your plans for the evening, I hope you all misbehave yourselves appropriately. If not -- well, there's always chocolate.