SHIMEKAZARI
Japanese New Year Decorations made of Hemp

In the old days, after the autumn harvest, when farming activities had slowed down, farming families would work on everyday items such as baskets and straw sandals made from leftover straw. This work, deeply connected to the natural cycles of farming, has long been an indispensable part of life in rural areas.

The origins of weaving date back to the Paleolithic era. People learned how to take advantage of the dynamic nature of certain plants, using their hands to create various items by twisting, braiding, and spinning ropes and cords from plant fibers, employing a lot of diverse techniques. Even today, when most items can be made by alternative methods, people are still inspired to weave and twist. This autumn, gallery nichinichi hosts two different exhibitions featuring fiber art works:

In November we present our annual exhibition of shimekazari, or Japanese New Year decorations, handcrafted by the masters of Kyoto’s Yamakawa family. In December we will show outstanding fiber art works by the renowned fiber artist Hisako Sekijima.

All shimekazari that we show in the November exhibition are made from high-quality, domestic-grown hemp of the highest quality with a striking bright hue. They are braided one by one by the Yamakawa family, a lineage of hemp artisans in Kyoto spanning five generations. The simple and elegant shapes are designed by gallery nichinichi based on traditional shapes from all over the Japanese archipelago. We tried to reduce the traditional decorative elements to make the shapes harmonize better with modern interiors and to bring out the beauty of the natural material. Each shape has a distinctive auspicious meaning, but the natural gleam and beautiful twist of the hemp fibers will immediately augur good fortune for the year ahead.

This year, we are offering 13 different types of shimekazari: small palm-sized items like the Gyoku (Ball), Megane (Spectacles), Hato (Dove) and Shimekazari-mini, a smaller, subtle piece that can be hung discreetly and which makes a thoughtful gift. We also offer larger, eye-catching designs like the Hōju (Wish-fulfilling gem) and Hebi (Snake), artworks which will prove striking in any setting. Please have a look in the VIEWING ROOM.

(For more information on the origins of shimekazari, please refer to this article.)

「BALL」W 105 ×H 370 mm

「RICE BALE」 W 470 / 2300 mm ×H 410 mm

「SPECTACLES (S)」W 200 × H 370 mm

「DOVE」W 220 × H 190 mm

「SHIMEKAZARI MINI」W 275 × H 85 mm