Rice straw grown in the Nagano region and carefully hand-braided by the artisans of Waramu. This good-luck ornament represents the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon — three celestial bodies traditionally associated with protection and auspicious signs. The small version can easily be attached to a bag as an accessory.

A shimenawa is a sacred rope marking a place where a deity is believed to have descended. Wherever it is displayed, impure or harmful spirits are thought to be kept away; it therefore also serves as protection and talisman. Hanging a shimenawa at the entrance of one’s home for the New Year signals the intention to welcome the deity of the coming year.

Waramu is a collective of artisans specializing in rice-straw craft, based in Iijima, Nagano Prefecture. Originally founded as a non-profit association dedicated to preserving the traditional making of rice-straw bales, the collective has since evolved into a social enterprise. Their work includes restoring abandoned rice fields, repurposing agricultural waste, running workshops with schoolchildren, and supporting vulnerable young adults.