Shimekazari “Kōjin” (for the deity of the hearth) / Rice straw / Tōkyō-JPN 250924-1　【2025-26 しめかざり】 250924-1　東京都/稲わら　しめかざり　荒神（こうじん）　＊通常販売済　　


							

＊＊＊ Please read Notes 1–2 before placing your order＊＊＊


1.This page is for Shimekazari orders.


Online Shop Sales Period
November 13 (Thu) – December 28 (Sun), 2025, 12:00 noon (JST)
＊Our physical store will also be open until Sunday, December 28.


This item is available only while supplies last.
Once sold out, sales will end.
Regardless of stock status, orders cannot be accepted after Monday, December 29.


We also ship internationally.
Please note that the year-end period is an exceptionally busy time for deliveries,
and your order may not arrive before the end of the year.
We kindly ask for your understanding that returns or refunds cannot be accepted due to delivery delays.


2. Regular items can also be ordered together with Shimekazari products.


However, depending on the type of Shimekazari,
some items may be too long to be shipped together with other baskets or trays.


To ensure safe delivery of your order,
please note that your purchase may need to be shipped in multiple packages,
and additional shipping fees may apply accordingly.


If any changes to the shipping fee are required,
we will inform you in the order confirmation email
(which is sent separately from the automatic order notification).




This is a type of shimekazari known as “Kōjin”, 
an ornament dedicated to Kōjin-sama, the deity who protects the kitchen and hearth.


It is a variation of the Gobō-jime,
a simple rope-shaped shimenawa that is twisted evenly into a single straight form.


Traditionally, this style is placed in the kitchen to honor the household’s guardian deity of fire.


The slightly upward curve on the left side has an unclear origin —
even the maker isn’t quite sure.


It may have been a way to distinguish it from the standard “Gobō-jime” type,
as they share nearly the same length and structure.


Interestingly, imported versions usually do not have this feature,
perhaps because straight forms are easier to pack and ship.




A Shimekazari is a traditional New Year’s ornament made of rice straw, displayed indoors or outdoors to welcome the Toshigami deity at the start of the year.


The Shimekazari introduced here is crafted mainly in Edogawa, Tokyo, using rice straw harvested in the surrounding regions, including Tsukuba in Ibaraki and Narita in Chiba Prefecture.






The rice straw used is harvested before the grains have fully ripened.






The harvest takes place around August, during the height of summer.


Since it becomes too hot to work during the day, the process begins early in the morning while it is still cool.


The cut rice straw is then carefully dried over time and stored in a cool, shaded place.






The harvested rice straw is stacked in a cooled storage room, waiting for its turn to be crafted.
Even just looking at the material itself, one can feel a sense of life, strength, and vitality.


The Shimekazari introduced here features beautifully uniform and powerful hand-twisted straw rope.




When exposed to sunlight, the straw quickly loses its green hue. However, when stored away from direct light, it retains this beautiful, fresh green color.


The Gobō Shimekazari has two sections called the “Moto” and the “Ura.” The Moto refers to the base area where the straw begins, while the Ura is the tip where the strips gradually become finer.


This part is called the Ura, a word that means “the tip” or “the far end.”


The part near the Ura, where the rope is lifted and tightened upward, is said to require particular skill and experience.


The maker mentioned that particular care is taken in shaping this part.


The thicker section is called the “nami,” or “wave.”
When twisting straw into rope, there are two directions: right-twist and left-twist. Shimenawa used for sacred or ritual purposes are traditionally made with a left-twist,
and the ones introduced here follow that custom. However, depending on the region or the maker, right-twisted ropes may also be used.


Four paper shide (zigzag-shaped sacred strips) are included.
For the Kōjin, it is common to hang three of them,
so please use the remaining one as a spare if needed.


To attach the shide, gently open the wavy part with your fingers and insert it so that the paper is held in place. Please refer to the video below for a demonstration of how to attach it.




Many Kōjin are decorated with paper shide hanging from the rope. It is said that the rope represents clouds, while the shide symbolize lightning. Because lightning often occurs during the rice-ripening season, it came to be regarded as a sacred sign of divine power and good harvest.









Please see the video below for how to attach it.




To keep your Shimekazari in good condition, 
please open the package promptly upon arrival and do not leave it stored inside the cardboard box.


If you are not going to display it right away, store it indoors in a cool place away from direct sunlight.


After use, it may be taken to a Shinto shrine for disposal, or treated as burnable household waste.
If disposing as waste, please be sure to follow your local municipality’s guidelines.




A shimekazari for the kitchen —
why not welcome the New Year with the Kōjin,
an ornament dedicated to the guardian deity of the hearth?




＊＊Please read the following notes carefully 
　and place your order only after understanding and agreeing to the terms.＊＊


Returns or exchanges cannot be accepted for Shimekazari, except in the case of defective items.


A “defective item” refers to one that is clearly damaged at the time of delivery.
We take the utmost care in inspection before shipping, but if you receive a defective item,
please contact us within 3 days after delivery.


＊Please note that we will be closed for the New Year holidays 
from Monday, December 29, 2025, to Sunday, January 4, 2026,
and will not be able to respond during that period.


We will replace defective items whenever possible,
but depending on the availability of materials and the maker’s schedule,
a replacement may not be possible.


Also, please understand that we cannot accept requests for returns or exchanges
if you contact us 4 days or more after delivery.

＊＊＊ Please read Notes 1–2 before placing your order＊＊＊

1.This page is for Shimekazari orders.

Online Shop Sales Period
November 13 (Thu) – December 28 (Sun), 2025, 12:00 noon (JST)
＊Our physical store will also be open until Sunday, December 28.

This item is available only while supplies last.
Once sold out, sales will end.
Regardless of stock status, orders cannot be accepted after Monday, December 29.

We also ship internationally.
Please note that the year-end period is an exceptionally busy time for deliveries,
and your order may not arrive before the end of the year.
We kindly ask for your understanding that returns or refunds cannot be accepted due to delivery delays.

2. Regular items can also be ordered together with Shimekazari products.

However, depending on the type of Shimekazari,
some items may be too long to be shipped together with other baskets or trays.

To ensure safe delivery of your order,
please note that your purchase may need to be shipped in multiple packages,
and additional shipping fees may apply accordingly.

If any changes to the shipping fee are required,
we will inform you in the order confirmation email
(which is sent separately from the automatic order notification).

This is a type of shimekazari known as “Kōjin”,
an ornament dedicated to Kōjin-sama, the deity who protects the kitchen and hearth.

It is a variation of the Gobō-jime,
a simple rope-shaped shimenawa that is twisted evenly into a single straight form.

Traditionally, this style is placed in the kitchen to honor the household’s guardian deity of fire.

The slightly upward curve on the left side has an unclear origin —
even the maker isn’t quite sure.

It may have been a way to distinguish it from the standard “Gobō-jime” type,
as they share nearly the same length and structure.

Interestingly, imported versions usually do not have this feature,
perhaps because straight forms are easier to pack and ship.

A Shimekazari is a traditional New Year’s ornament made of rice straw, displayed indoors or outdoors to welcome the Toshigami deity at the start of the year.

The Shimekazari introduced here is crafted mainly in Edogawa, Tokyo, using rice straw harvested in the surrounding regions, including Tsukuba in Ibaraki and Narita in Chiba Prefecture.

The rice straw used is harvested before the grains have fully ripened.

The harvest takes place around August, during the height of summer.

Since it becomes too hot to work during the day, the process begins early in the morning while it is still cool.

The cut rice straw is then carefully dried over time and stored in a cool, shaded place.

The harvested rice straw is stacked in a cooled storage room, waiting for its turn to be crafted.
Even just looking at the material itself, one can feel a sense of life, strength, and vitality.

The Shimekazari introduced here features beautifully uniform and powerful hand-twisted straw rope.

When exposed to sunlight, the straw quickly loses its green hue. However, when stored away from direct light, it retains this beautiful, fresh green color.
The Gobō Shimekazari has two sections called the “Moto” and the “Ura.” The Moto refers to the base area where the straw begins, while the Ura is the tip where the strips gradually become finer.
This part is called the Ura, a word that means “the tip” or “the far end.”
The part near the Ura, where the rope is lifted and tightened upward, is said to require particular skill and experience.
The maker mentioned that particular care is taken in shaping this part.
The thicker section is called the “nami,” or “wave.”
When twisting straw into rope, there are two directions: right-twist and left-twist. Shimenawa used for sacred or ritual purposes are traditionally made with a left-twist,
and the ones introduced here follow that custom. However, depending on the region or the maker, right-twisted ropes may also be used.
Four paper shide (zigzag-shaped sacred strips) are included.
For the Kōjin, it is common to hang three of them,
so please use the remaining one as a spare if needed.
To attach the shide, gently open the wavy part with your fingers and insert it so that the paper is held in place. Please refer to the video below for a demonstration of how to attach it.
Many Kōjin are decorated with paper shide hanging from the rope. It is said that the rope represents clouds, while the shide symbolize lightning. Because lightning often occurs during the rice-ripening season, it came to be regarded as a sacred sign of divine power and good harvest.

Please see the video below for how to attach it.

To keep your Shimekazari in good condition,
please open the package promptly upon arrival and do not leave it stored inside the cardboard box.

If you are not going to display it right away, store it indoors in a cool place away from direct sunlight.

After use, it may be taken to a Shinto shrine for disposal, or treated as burnable household waste.
If disposing as waste, please be sure to follow your local municipality’s guidelines.

A shimekazari for the kitchen —
why not welcome the New Year with the Kōjin,
an ornament dedicated to the guardian deity of the hearth?

＊＊Please read the following notes carefully
　and place your order only after understanding and agreeing to the terms.＊＊

Returns or exchanges cannot be accepted for Shimekazari, except in the case of defective items.

A “defective item” refers to one that is clearly damaged at the time of delivery.
We take the utmost care in inspection before shipping, but if you receive a defective item,
please contact us within 3 days after delivery.

＊Please note that we will be closed for the New Year holidays
from Monday, December 29, 2025, to Sunday, January 4, 2026,
and will not be able to respond during that period.

We will replace defective items whenever possible,
but depending on the availability of materials and the maker’s schedule,
a replacement may not be possible.

Also, please understand that we cannot accept requests for returns or exchanges
if you contact us 4 days or more after delivery.


							

＊＊＊ Please read Notes 1–2 before placing your order＊＊＊


1.This page is for Shimekazari orders.


Online Shop Sales Period
November 13 (Thu) – December 28 (Sun), 2025, 12:00 noon (JST)
＊Our physical store will also be open until Sunday, December 28.


This item is available only while supplies last.
Once sold out, sales will end.
Regardless of stock status, orders cannot be accepted after Monday, December 29.


We also ship internationally.
Please note that the year-end period is an exceptionally busy time for deliveries,
and your order may not arrive before the end of the year.
We kindly ask for your understanding that returns or refunds cannot be accepted due to delivery delays.


2. Regular items can also be ordered together with Shimekazari products.


However, depending on the type of Shimekazari,
some items may be too long to be shipped together with other baskets or trays.


To ensure safe delivery of your order,
please note that your purchase may need to be shipped in multiple packages,
and additional shipping fees may apply accordingly.


If any changes to the shipping fee are required,
we will inform you in the order confirmation email
(which is sent separately from the automatic order notification).




This is a type of shimekazari known as “Kōjin”, 
an ornament dedicated to Kōjin-sama, the deity who protects the kitchen and hearth.


It is a variation of the Gobō-jime,
a simple rope-shaped shimenawa that is twisted evenly into a single straight form.


Traditionally, this style is placed in the kitchen to honor the household’s guardian deity of fire.


The slightly upward curve on the left side has an unclear origin —
even the maker isn’t quite sure.


It may have been a way to distinguish it from the standard “Gobō-jime” type,
as they share nearly the same length and structure.


Interestingly, imported versions usually do not have this feature,
perhaps because straight forms are easier to pack and ship.




A Shimekazari is a traditional New Year’s ornament made of rice straw, displayed indoors or outdoors to welcome the Toshigami deity at the start of the year.


The Shimekazari introduced here is crafted mainly in Edogawa, Tokyo, using rice straw harvested in the surrounding regions, including Tsukuba in Ibaraki and Narita in Chiba Prefecture.






The rice straw used is harvested before the grains have fully ripened.






The harvest takes place around August, during the height of summer.


Since it becomes too hot to work during the day, the process begins early in the morning while it is still cool.


The cut rice straw is then carefully dried over time and stored in a cool, shaded place.






The harvested rice straw is stacked in a cooled storage room, waiting for its turn to be crafted.
Even just looking at the material itself, one can feel a sense of life, strength, and vitality.


The Shimekazari introduced here features beautifully uniform and powerful hand-twisted straw rope.




When exposed to sunlight, the straw quickly loses its green hue. However, when stored away from direct light, it retains this beautiful, fresh green color.


The Gobō Shimekazari has two sections called the “Moto” and the “Ura.” The Moto refers to the base area where the straw begins, while the Ura is the tip where the strips gradually become finer.


This part is called the Ura, a word that means “the tip” or “the far end.”


The part near the Ura, where the rope is lifted and tightened upward, is said to require particular skill and experience.


The maker mentioned that particular care is taken in shaping this part.


The thicker section is called the “nami,” or “wave.”
When twisting straw into rope, there are two directions: right-twist and left-twist. Shimenawa used for sacred or ritual purposes are traditionally made with a left-twist,
and the ones introduced here follow that custom. However, depending on the region or the maker, right-twisted ropes may also be used.


Four paper shide (zigzag-shaped sacred strips) are included.
For the Kōjin, it is common to hang three of them,
so please use the remaining one as a spare if needed.


To attach the shide, gently open the wavy part with your fingers and insert it so that the paper is held in place. Please refer to the video below for a demonstration of how to attach it.




Many Kōjin are decorated with paper shide hanging from the rope. It is said that the rope represents clouds, while the shide symbolize lightning. Because lightning often occurs during the rice-ripening season, it came to be regarded as a sacred sign of divine power and good harvest.









Please see the video below for how to attach it.




To keep your Shimekazari in good condition, 
please open the package promptly upon arrival and do not leave it stored inside the cardboard box.


If you are not going to display it right away, store it indoors in a cool place away from direct sunlight.


After use, it may be taken to a Shinto shrine for disposal, or treated as burnable household waste.
If disposing as waste, please be sure to follow your local municipality’s guidelines.




A shimekazari for the kitchen —
why not welcome the New Year with the Kōjin,
an ornament dedicated to the guardian deity of the hearth?




＊＊Please read the following notes carefully 
　and place your order only after understanding and agreeing to the terms.＊＊


Returns or exchanges cannot be accepted for Shimekazari, except in the case of defective items.


A “defective item” refers to one that is clearly damaged at the time of delivery.
We take the utmost care in inspection before shipping, but if you receive a defective item,
please contact us within 3 days after delivery.


＊Please note that we will be closed for the New Year holidays 
from Monday, December 29, 2025, to Sunday, January 4, 2026,
and will not be able to respond during that period.


We will replace defective items whenever possible,
but depending on the availability of materials and the maker’s schedule,
a replacement may not be possible.


Also, please understand that we cannot accept requests for returns or exchanges
if you contact us 4 days or more after delivery.