
Source: @yutatatatata
Local Senior Citizens Build Beautiful Straw “Year of The Rat” Guardian In Front Of Shrine
Related Article
-
Japanese Nerd And Fetish Brand Releases Gakuran School Uniform Swimsuit
-
Japanese Artist’s Dark, Deep And True Illustrations Will Definitely Make You Think
-
Starbucks Japan Is Going All Out This Year With Sakura-Themed Products
-
Cup Of Zen: First Ever Shojin Ryori Cup Ramen Released In Japan
-
This Artist Takes Off The Gown To Show Us Sinister And Dark Versions Of Disney Princesses
-
Credit Card Forms Japanese Idol Unit Out Of Company Employees
When Japanese Twitter user Yuta Yoshida (@yutatatatata recently visited the Tohashira Shrine located near their family home in Hyogo prefecture, they may have found the cutest and most charming mascot ringing in the New Year yet: a charming mouse sculpture crafted from rice straw by local elderly residents that seems to be ushering visitors into the shrine.
Source: @yutatatatata
Source: @yutatatatata
As shown below, each new year the shrine displays of a beautifully crafted Chinese zodiac animal. As 2020 is the Year of the Rat (or mouse, given that that Japanese word "nezumi" can be used for either), a volunteer group of local senior citizens banded together once more to expertly build the shrine's new rodent guardian. The construction and design effort was led by 76-year old Shun Nonaka, and Yoshida writes that the gorgeously woven animals have been increasing hatsumoude (first shrine visit of the New Year) pilgrimages every year.
Source: @yutatatatata
Hopefully the coming years bring even more awesome straw animal structures.