＊＊＊Please read 1-2 at the beginning＊＊＊

1.Here is the order page for the seasonal product “Shimekazari”.

This online store is available
From Friday, November 1, 2024
To Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 12:00 noon ( JST).

Saturday, December 28th will be the last day for purchases at the physical store.

These are limited stock items and will be discontinued once they are sold out.
Also, regardless of availability, orders will not be accepted after Sunday, December 29th.

We look forward to receiving your orders as soon as possible during this period.

For overseas shipments, we will use Japan Post (EMS). Due to the high volume of shipments at this time of year,
we cannot guarantee that your order will be delivered before the end of the year.
Also, please note that we cannot offer refunds for late deliveries.

2. Regular items can be ordered together with the shimekazari.

However, some of the shimekazari are long, sometimes it is difficult to ship them together with other items.

To ensure the safe delivery of your order, please note that depending on the contents of your order,
your package may be delivered in multiple shipments and you may be charged for multiple shipments.

If there is a change in shipping costs, we will notify you of the change
in the order confirmation email (separate from the automatic email) sent from our store.

This is one of the oriental Zodiac series that we introduce at our store,
in reference to the year of the snake in the oriental Zodiac in 2025.

This is a Shimekazari that expresses the Kanji(Chinese characters) “巳”.

There are various opinions about the origins of the character “巳”,
but some say it is a pictograph of a snake, while others say it is a pictograph of a fetus.

If you look closely at the Kanji part of the Shimekazari,
Oh my, what a snake!

The shape of the character “巳” made from a snake.
If the origin of the character is a shape modeled on a snake, this one really does express that well.

Snakes have a scary image, with their long bodies slithering up to you without warning, sharp fangs and venom,
but they are also said to symbolize rebirth, vitality and birth, as they grow by repeatedly shedding their skin.

Snakes also have a side to them as water deities, and in Japan,
where rice farming has been carried out since ancient times, they were also thought of as familiar gods,
to whom prayers were made for rain and the blessings of abundant water.

Shimekazari are decorations made from rice straw that are displayed inside and outside the house in preparation for welcoming the New Year’s deity, “Toshigami-sama”.

The Shimekazari introduced here is made using rice straw harvested in the southern part of Nagano Prefecture and is made locally.

The makers are involved in every step of the process, from growing the rice straw to harvesting and making the decorations.

Rice straw, also called “green harvest”, harvested before the rice has ripened.

Rice harvesting takes place in the peak of the summer heat, from July to August.

This Shimekazari is made from high-quality rice straw that is also used to make the ring for Sumo wrestling.
The soft green rice straw is carefully woven into a pattern.

The size is about the same as an adult’s outstretched palms.
It’s not too small, not too big, and it’s a size that you can display anywhere.

It comes with a cord so that you can hang it on a wall.
It’s light and thin, so it should be easy to hang on a small hook.

You could display them on the wall in the living room, or lean them up against a window or shelf.

Depending on the angle at which you lean it, it may slip and fall over,
so using a stand or something similar will make it more stable and allow you to display it in a wider range of layouts. We also recommend that you display it and enjoy it throughout the year, even after New Year’s Day.

In order to keep the Shimekazari in good condition,
please do not leave it in the cardboard box after it arrives, but open it and take it out immediately.

If you do not display it immediately after taking it out of the box,
please store it in a cool place that is not exposed to direct sunlight.

After use, you can either take it to the shrine’s collection point or dispose of it as burnable waste.
If you dispose of it as burnable waste, please make sure to follow the waste classification rules of your local government.

We just hung it on a small easel.

When seeing a happy-looking snake, you get the feeling that it will bring you good luck.

It looks as if it has formed the shape of the “巳(snake)” by accident,
as if it were playing with a straw rope or resting on a roost.

Please enjoy the “巳” character that was born unexpectedly.

May the new year be a year of further growth and vitality.

＊＊Please read the following text to the end and make a reservation
only after you have understood it.＊＊

Shimekazari does not accept returns or exchanges for any reason, except for defective products.

Defective products are those that are clearly damaged when they arrive.
We take great care to inspect products before shipping,
but if you receive a defective product, please contact us within 3 days of delivery.
*However, we will be unavailable from December 29, 2024 (Sun.)
through January 3, 2025 (Fri.) due to the holiday season.

We will replace defective products whenever possible,
but there may be cases where we are unable to provide a replacement due to the materials
or the circumstances of the maker.

Please note that we will not be able to accept returns or exchanges
if you contact us more than 4 days after delivery.