Netsuke (Japanese: pronounced "net-soo-kay") are not really beads per se, but they can be used as beads and integrated into your jewelry-making. They look like a large (perhaps 0.5- to 1-inch) bead or charm carved out of wood or other material with a hole drilled through it for a cord.

(COPYRIGHT: I'm so sorry to have to put this here, but I've had trouble with online content theft. Readers are welcome to print my articles for their personal use, but I do not allow my text or photos to be copied to anyone's online site. No one may use my content without written permission from me.)

They are intricate little carvings that can represent animals, Buddha, faces, or tableaux carved in relief. Some even have moving parts or little trick-surprises contained within.

From Wikipedia, I found out that netsuke were invented in 17th century Japan. A netsuke serves as a button or toggle through which to run a cord that attaches a small pouch to a kimono. In the pouch, a person could stash his or her personal belongings since a kimono didn't have pockets. [1]

Anyway, nowadays, netsuke have become collector's items and the antiques carved from ivory can get expensive. Fortunately, the crafts market has revitalized demand for everyday, inexpensive netsuke to be produced.

Most are made of boxwood and you can find them by going to eBay.com and searching on "netsuke." You could also carve your own from wood, or make it out of polymer clay that is dyed and carved to look like ivory.

Netsuke look terrific when used as a big focal bead or pendant in a necklace. You can also use the smaller types in new-style charm bracelets. Just thread it on a headpin and wrap the headpin into a loop. You can wrap the loop directly onto a link of your charm bracelet, or use a jump ring to connect loop to bracelet.

One great way to wear the larger, more intricate netsuke is on a black, satin cord. After all, netsuke were once intended to be strung upon such cords. You can add a few beads with spacers if you like. Often just the cord, perhaps tied with a few intricate knots is enough to form a gorgeous pendant that stands out in its simplicity. The absence of other decoration throws emphasis right where you want it: on your netsuke.

References:
1. Wikipedia article "Netsuke" retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netsuke on 8/20/09