The making of shimenawa for the New Year is at its peak. Ms. Ritsuko Fukushima, 82, a housewife from Kurusu, Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture, who has been making "Shimenawa" for about 20 years, knits three bundles of straw together, shapes them, and then ties them at both ends.

The ancient rice that was grown for shimenawa was harvested in early August before the ears appeared, dried and stored, and production started in November. Ms. Fukushima, in her lushly fragrant workshop, worked carefully with her housewife, Katsuko Inami (74), who came to help her. They range in length from 2 shaku (approximately 60 centimeters) to 6 shaku (approximately 1.8 meters), and about 300 will be made by the middle of this month. In addition to being sold at direct sales stores inside and outside the city, it will also be delivered to shrines in the city.

Ms. Fukushima said, "Making shimenawa according to orders is what makes my life worthwhile. I make it with the hope that everyone will be happy."