The rope tied around a shrine space, or across its entrance, to mark its sacred nature is called the shimenawa. Traditionally woven from hemp, but nowadays more frequently rice or wheat straw, this ...

A giant shimenawa rope to decorate a huge zelkova tree, which is a national natural monument, was made at the Higashine Municipal Higashine Elementary School in Yamagata Prefecture on February 23. The ...

New Year preparations are underway here in Japan.u2028At a temple near Tokyo, a large shimenawa sacred rope was hung to pray for a good harvest, and to greet the new year.

At Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in the city of Narita, Chiba Prefecture, work is underway to create a big "shimenawa" sacred rope for New Year celebrations. Its origins date back to the Edo period (1603 ...