The zodiac animals—rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar — represent the twelve-year cycles in Asia. Celebrating the New Year, this exhibition highlights Japanese netsuke in the shape of these 12 zodiac animals from the Chester Beatty Collections. Netsuke are tiny sculptures carved from wood, ivory and metal. In the Edo period (1615–1868), men used netsuke as toggles to secure personal items hung from their sashes.

Maintaining their functionality, netsuke also became a fashion statement. The netsuke featured in this exhibition tell the stories of the twelve zodiac animals uniquely developed in Japan. The exhibition also explores fascinating and fun facts about these animals in Irish folklore and in the world of zoology.

At the front desk, 3D-printed models of the exhibited netsuke are available for visually impaired visitors to handle.