Kiriko of Minamisanriku, from traditional customs to a new landscape of the town

Kirikoto?

Kiriko is a custom passed down in the area north of Shiogama City. The priests of each shrine fold Japanese paper in half and cut lucky charms such as sacred sake and sea bream with a knife.

The Sanriku region, which lives in harmony with nature, uses kiriko to decorate household Shinto altars so that it can be offered to the gods even during periods of poor fishing and poor harvests.

A kiriko decorated with a Shinto altar of a house in Minamisanriku

Regional revitalization through art Minamisanriku Minna no Kiriko Project

Inspired by traditional kiriko, in 2010, the "Minamisanriku Minna no Kiriko Project" was held to revitalize the local community, mainly by women in Minamisanriku.

After listening to the precious memories of the residents, we started designing and making kiriko that belonged to each and every one of them.

The white paper cut town is beautiful and brings new life to the town.
Above all, the greatest achievement is that by looking at the Kiriko displayed in front of the house and hearing about the episodes that happened in the neighbor's house, we were able to create opportunities to learn about each other that we had not known before, and to strengthen bonds between local residents. deeper.

Minamisanriku town decorated with Kiriko before the earthquake

Kiriko with mysterious power

In 2011, just as we decided to expand our plans, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck. After the earthquake, I was so busy with reconstruction and other things that I couldn't afford to continue the project.

The Minamisanriku Minna no Kiriko Project was once canceled, but some of the people involved wanted the project to continue.

2012 Aluminum composite plate kiriko installed temporarily in the center of Shizugawa and Utatsu districts

To preserve the memory of the residents who lived in this town, to pass on to future generations their affection for their hometown of Minamisanriku, and their strong will to withstand disasters, kiriko is a symbol of ambiguous emotions in the hearts of the people. was visualized.

In 2012, Kiriko, which was temporarily erected with a single pipe in a residential area that was swept away by the tsunami and became ruined, healed people's hearts by expressing a living message.

Today, Kiriko of Minamisanriku

You can still see kiriko, which were created with a feeling of blessing for newly opened shops and offices after the earthquake, in various places in the town, such as Minami Sanriku Sansan Shopping Street.

The town decorated with kiriko is a scene unique to Minamisanriku.

Kiriko on display at Minamisanriku Sansan Shopping Street

When I moved to Minamisanriku, I found the kiriko decorated here and there, listened to stories of how the residents of Minamisanriku overcame hardships, and wondered if this new town looked like this in the past. How about walking around Minamisanriku?

Kiriko displayed at the Minamisanriku government office

Kiriko original goods

Also, at the Minamisanriku 311 Memorial next to the Minamisanriku Sansan Shopping Street, original paper files and postcards with Kiriko patterns are on sale.

Designed with motifs of the rich nature of Minamisanriku, such as Brent goose, octopus, oysters, wakame seaweed, and tabunoki, it is perfect as a souvenir!

Kiriko pattern paper file (red/blue) (left) 800 yen/sheet Kiriko pattern postcard (red/blue) 150 yen/sheet (right)

Purchase information

Sold at: Minamisanriku 311 Memorial (Michi-no-Eki Sansan Minamisanriku complex)
Business hours: 9:00~17:00 / Closed on Tuesdays If you would like to come, please ask at the reception counter.

Minamisanriku 311 Memorial

200-1 Shizugawa Itsukamachi, Minamisanriku-cho, Motoyoshi-gun, Miyagi...

"Minamisanriku 311 Memorial" is a facility to pass on the Great East Japan Earthquake, which opened in October 2022. On March 11, 2011, this...