At the end of the year, there are two Japanese traditions related to the sacred straw rope (shimenawa). First, the shimenawa of the Shinto shrines is replaced with a new one, and second, there is a small shimenawa embellished with auspicious objects, called shimekazari, placed on the door at homes.

Shimekazari is an amulet said to prevent the evil spirits to enter… And the orange visible in the photo is a daidai, a Japanese bitter orange which, because of a wordplay, is a symbol of family continuity. Daidai is normally written 橙, but it can be written also 代々, which means “from generation to generation"…

Japanese New Year Decoration, Shimekazari

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Merry Christmas! Tokyo KITTE white Christmas tree