Daikon Shimenawa

Japanese decorations handmade from braided rice straw and paper streamers. These wreaths are traditionally hung in shrines and over doorways, especially at New Year, to welcome good luck.

The craft is called ‘​​warazaiku’ which refers to the art of weaving from rice straw, with only a few craftsmen still remaining.

This shimenawa is woven in the classic ‘daikon’ radish shape, tapered at the tip but substantially thicker towards the middle and end. A daikon wreath represents health and cleansing.