MINOGAME ON LOTUS LEAF

A mythological turtle (minogame) crawling atop a large folded lotus leaf.  The texture of the leaf is finely engraved and the stalk is bent over to form the himotoshi.

The turtle [together with the dragon, ho-o and tiger] is one of the `Four Immortal Animals' of Chinese mythology.  It is also a symbol of longevity and considered to be a lucky omen to fishermen.  After these amphibians reached one thousand years of age and from having lived in a pond, water weeds attach to its shell to form a long and busy tail, thereby earning it the name of minogame, referring to its resemblance to a peasant's grass rain coat.