The tassels hanging down from the bottom of the apron.
Do you know where this "tassel" comes from?

In fact, it is said that this "tassel" originated from the decorations used at shrines.

The New Year decorations at shrines are made up of tassels of straw hanging down.
Shimekazari is a type of rope called shimenawa, which is used to distinguish sacred places where gods are worshiped from other places, and has served as a kind of talisman.
The reason we decorate the entrance to our homes with shimenawa ropes at New Year's is to prevent bad spirits (evil spirits) from entering the house.



One example of an item that wears tassels, which can be considered a design element of shimekazari, is the kesho-mawashi worn by sumo wrestlers.




Sumo was originally a religious ritual, dedicated to the gods in prayer for a bountiful harvest, so it makes sense that the mawashi worn by sumo wrestlers has tassels attached to it.

The meaning of the apron lies not only in its tassels but also in its long waist straps.

The reason why the waist strings of the apron are basically red and white is because red and white are considered auspicious. It also symbolizes prosperity in business.

Although it is called red and white, it is not red, but a yellowish red called vermilion.


Vermilion is said to be a color that wards off evil, which is why it is often used in shrine buildings and torii gates.


Vermilion is also called orange.
Because the orange tree survives the New Year without dropping its fruit, it has been called "daidai" (daidai for generations) and is considered an auspicious fruit. This is also why oranges are often used as decorations for the New Year.

The apron strings are made of vermilion (orange) to bring good luck and protect against evil and misfortune.

Currently, Anything aprons are manufactured in Toyohashi, a major aprons production area, but the waist straps are manufactured in Kannabe-cho, Fukuyama City.
Fukuyama is known as a producer of Bingo Kasuri and working wear. What Toyohashi and Fukuyama have in common is that they both have the technical foundations for working with cotton yarn.
The waist strings are also manufactured using the same shuttle looms used to weave apron fabric.

Made from 100% cotton, it is woven with a firm yet stretchy weave, and together with the Toyohashi apron fabric, it is a masterpiece that shows the craftsmanship behind it.