Satoyama Classroom 2025 - Autumn/Winter Edition - Part 2: Making Winter Shimenawa (sacred ropes) after the rice harvest

Approximately four months have passed since the rice planting took place in May. In September, we harvested, threshed, and milled the rice, and in December, we held a "shimenawa making" event to celebrate the arrival of the new year. This time, we will introduce the shimenawa making event that took place in December 2025.

■4th Session: "Let's Play in the Satoyama! ~Shimenawa Making Edition~"
In December, as the culmination of the Satoyama (rural landscape) classes, we held our annual "Shimenawa (sacred straw rope) making" activity.
As the air gradually thickens with the approach of the end of the year, we once again used rice grown in the "The Countryside of Kyoto" area for this event.
Before starting the work, the animal care staff explained the origin of the shimenawa (sacred rope) and when it should be displayed.

Shimenawa ropes are said to be an important marker for welcoming the "New Year's God," who brings happiness for the coming year. We also shared wisdom rooted in Japanese life, such as the fact that there are auspicious days for when to start decorating with them, and that December 29th should be avoided because it sounds like "double suffering."

After the explanation, it was finally time to make the sacred ropes.
First, the animal care staff demonstrated how to make them using straw, and then the participants were given the opportunity to try it themselves.

The process of taking the straw in your hands, holding it firmly with your feet, and carefully rolling it up may seem simple at first glance, but it actually requires a bit of skill.

Nevertheless, as they continued, everyone's movements became lighter and lighter. Some who had extra time even managed to complete multiple shimenawa (sacred ropes).
Once the shape is complete, trim any protruding straw to finish it off. Finally, decorate it with mizuhiki (decorative cords) and shide (paper streamers) to complete the shimenawa (sacred rope).
We would be delighted if you could decorate your home with a shimenawa (sacred rope) made in the "The Countryside of Kyoto" area to welcome the new year.

■Bonus

The "Giant Salamander Tree," which adds to the festive atmosphere of the Christmas season every year, was on display for about a month in 2025 with the theme of "praying for a bountiful harvest."
The tree is made up of approximately 90 giant salamander plush toys of various sizes, and in line with this year's theme, it is decorated with ornaments made from rice straw harvested at the Satoyama (traditional Japanese rural landscape) workshop. The ornaments are themed after animals from the Kyoto Aquarium, such as giant salamanders and dolphins.

During the New Year's holiday, we decorated with a New Year's version of the shimenawa (sacred rope) and celebrated the New Year together with our customers.
In 2025, we saw a decrease in rice yields and a surge in prices, but we all prayed for a bountiful harvest in 2026.

■Looking back on the 2025 Satoyama Classroom <br />With the Shimenawa (sacred rope) making session, all programs for the 2025 Satoyama Classroom have concluded. Thank you to everyone who participated.
We hope that this rice farming experience will give children an opportunity to re-examine the natural environment around them. Kyoto Aquarium will continue to provide opportunities for people to experience nature.

Kyoto Aquarium is running "AQTION!", a sustainability promotion project aimed at passing the baton to the future of our planet. We are working together with children and local communities to address global and societal challenges that can only be seen from the perspective of an aquarium.

For more information about AQTION!'s activities, click here.