A flat circular box of the kind Lawrence identifies as a kōgō (incense box), painted outside with Boys’ Day (Tango no Sekku) celebrations under a huge carp streamer (koinobori) and sashimono banners. Inside, a grey heron stands among irises. Lawrence argues that the irises were chosen deliberately, because they reinforce the Boys’ Day association, and that Meizan “or one of his staff” would have had to explain the symbolism to Western clients visiting the workshop (p. 38).
Lawrence also explains the boys beating the ground with lengths of woven iris leaves: the custom belongs to Shōbu no Sekku, the Feast of the Iris, in which mock battles with iris leaves drive away demons (p. 38).
Description summarised from Louis Lawrence, Satsuma: The Romance of Japan (2011), pl. 15, pp. 36–38. Measurements and marks are as published and have not been checked against the object.