On February 8th every year there is a ceremony where Japanese tailors, needlewomen, seamstresses, kimono makers, and of course quilters and us who love embroidery, say thanks to old and broken pins and sewing needles. How? By sticking them into a big block of tofu at a Buddhist temple.
This picture is from the blogpost I wrote last year:
Today, I took part in the Hari-kuyo ceremony in Asakusa. This is a 400-year-old rite to honour your broken needles and the hard work they have done in the past year. The Shinto belief that objects have souls is merged with the Buddhist spirit of showing gratitude to things that have served you well.
In front of Awashimado Hall, on the grounds of the famous Asakusa Kannon Temple in Tokyo, slabs of firm tofu had been set up. Kimono makers, as well as seamstresses and quilters, stuck their broken needles into these cakes of tofu and offered a prayer of thanks.
This ceremony is held in Tokyo on the 8th of February every year. I have until now been unable to attend but it has been on my bucket list to at least once take part. This year I was fortunate to find the time.
