At a shrine in Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, a huge 7-meter-long shimenawa is being dedicated, and preparations are underway to welcome the New Year as soon as possible.
The dedication of the shimenawa held at the Sumiyoshi Shrine in Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, was attended by about 10 people related to the shrine.
The dedicated shimenawa is made by weaving rice straw by hand and is 7 meters long and weighs 300 kilograms.
Over the course of more than an hour, the rope was attached to the 1-meter-high worship hall, and heavy machinery was used to lift the rope and secure it with ropes.
At this shrine, the shimenawa was replaced once every five years, but due to the influence of the new coronavirus, it will be replaced for the first time in eight years since Heisei 4, and for the next five years, the shimenawa attached this time will welcome worshippers.
Munehiko Moriwaki, the priest of Sumiyoshi Shrine, said, "I felt refreshed after replacing the shimenawa, and I hope that those who visit the shrine will welcome the new year with a refreshing feeling after the Corona disaster."