Monday, November 28, 2022
Next month on Sunday, December 18th, a straw craft workshop called "Shimenawa Making Experience" will be held at Hokuryu Town's commercial revitalization facility "Kokowa", sponsored by Hokuryu Town's straw craft group "Nakura" (representative: Tanimoto Kei).
December 18th (Sun) Shimenawa Making Experience
- Date and time:Sunday, December 18, 2020, 13:30~, 15:00~
The event will be held in two parts (Part 1: 15 people; Shimenawa making: 5 people, Wreath making: 10 people) - place :Hokuryu Town Commercial Revitalization Facility Cocowa
- Experience fee:500 yen
- Shimenawa:Length suitable for display on a Shinto altar of 60cm to 70cm
- lease:12cm Christmas and New Year decoration wreaths
- Nawanai (rope weaving):Experience how to weave rope
Straw craft group "Nakura" club activities
Prior to the trial session, we would like to introduce the activities of the straw craft group "Nakura," which took place on Sunday, November 27th from 9:30am.
Club activities are held irregularly once or twice a month in the community center's judo room.
Two students from Takushoku University Hokkaido Junior College (Fukagawa City) also participated on the day, bringing the total to about five members. Under the guidance of Katsura Tanimoto and Kaori Asano, the two-hour session, from 9:30 to 11:30, was held in a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere.
Nakura Instagram
Launch of the circle "Nakura"
The impetus for starting the circle "Nakura" was a call for "shimenawa making" by Katsura Tanimoto, a member of the circle "Tsumugi."
To carry out the event, we asked Mr. Kunimitsu Abe (an employee of the Hokuryu Town Board of Education) who has extensive experience in rope making, to provide guidance, and the ``Shimenawa Making Workshop'' began.
*The group name "Nakura" is said to be derived from the initials of "Natural Craft."
A story by Mr. Kunimitsu Abe (Hokuryu Town Board of Education staff)
We spoke with Abe Kunimitsu, who is supervising the students.
"My parents were farmers in Hokuryu Town, so straw was always around me from a young age.
I wanted to try making things using things that were close at hand. Rather than using cardboard or plastic, I felt there was potential in giving shape to things that we find in our daily lives.
During my university days, I wanted to make things using rice straw, so I taught myself online, including how to make shimenawa ropes.
This year, Tanimoto-san, who learned that I could make shimenawa, asked me to hold a workshop. So, we decided to hold a "Shimenawa Workshop" to teach everyone how to make shimenawa, and it started in February of this year.
The rice straw we prepared was donated by a neighboring farmer. It is "Nanatsuboshi" rice straw.
After the rice is harvested, it is dried in the sun and then threshed, and the thin straw on the surface of each straw is "raked" off. This work is surprisingly difficult and takes time," says Abe, who continues to carefully arrange the straw.
The materials, mainly rice straw, are produced in Hokuryu Town.
The materials used for the decorations, mainly rice straw (rice ears, fir twigs, pine cones, senryo (rice stalks), cotton flowers, shishito peppers, etc.), are all produced in Hokuryu Town!
Club activities
Shimenawa making experience session
The Shimenawa making experience will be held on Sunday, December 18th at Hokuryu Town Commercial Revitalization Facility Cocowa!
Why not take the time to try your hand at making your own original shimenawa and wreath using rice straw from Hokuryu Town?
Don't miss out on this wonderful experience!
Other photos
YouTube videos
◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi
![Sorry for posting it so many times 💦 I didn't write the number of people allowed... 🙏 💦 [Nukura Straw Crafts]](https://portal.hokuryu.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022-11-29-7.31.15-375x244.jpg)
