Core Kyoto

S11E01 Rice Straw: Beauty Within the Prayers of Daily Life

In November, Fushimi Inari Taisha celebrates a festival that honors a bountiful harvest by burning rice straw as an expression of gratitude. This straw represents a deep bond, as it is thought that the rice deity resides within the grains, linking it to prayers for fertility and New Year’s decorations. Additionally, rice straw finds its place in everyday objects, with an artisan skillfully crafting contemporary ornaments from it, thereby transforming the traditional straw crafting technique. Explore the rich history of how prayer and rice straw are intertwined across the ages.