This particular collection came to be the topic of a research project through the initiative of the family to whom it belongs, who wanted to learn more about the objects in the collection that had been passed down to them. The owners contacted Professor Hans B. Thomsen, who in turn showed the collection to the students. A group of twelve students formed to carry out the survey. The collection mainly consisted of netsuke and inrō, with fine examples of both, but also included a few other items such as carved figurines. The students had an opportunity to work very closely with the pieces, viewing and examining the objects first hand.
Work on the major part of the collection took place in the first half of 2012, and a small number of additional pieces were added later. Each of the students individually researched the objects they had chosen, putting the results into written form, which was then presented to the owners. In addition to the individual object descriptions written by the students, Professor Thomsen provided thematic introductions.
Beside the research aspect, the project included practical experience in preparing a publication as the project was planned with the intention of publishing the results in the form of a catalogue. An editing group was formed by a few students from the group and headed by Professor Thomsen, for proofreading the text entries and adding further sections for the publication (glossary, bibliography, etc.). The editing of the first large section of the collection took place in the second half of 2012. The additional pieces were researched in early 2013 and then edited. Currently, the finalisation of the material for publication is in its concluding stages.