Rice straw grown in the Nagano region, carefully hand-braided by the artisans of Waramu. This ornament features an abundant sheaf of rice, a traditional symbol of prosperity. It conveys wishes for wealth, good health, household safety, and commercial success – various forms of growth and well-being.

A shimenawa is a sacred rope marking a place where a deity is believed to have descended. It is thought to keep away impure or harmful spirits, acting as both protection and talisman. Hanging a shimenawa at the entrance of one’s home for the New Year signals that the household is ready 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 making of traditional rice-straw bales, it 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.