Traditional Japanese New Year’s decorations ready for 2022

The Yomiuri Shimbun

12:27 JST, December 18, 2021

Workers are busy preparing kadomatsu, traditional New Year’s bamboo and pine decorations, at Soshi gardening company in Tonosho, Chiba Prefecture. About 40 craftsmen have been working since late September to produce nine types of kadomatsu from 1 to 2.4 meters tall. The company has received orders for 1,100 pairs this year — about the same as an average year despite the pandemic. The medium size, which is 1.5 meters tall, is the most commonly ordered. These kadomatsu are purchased at flower markets in Tokyo. Soshi gardening company will continue to ship the decorations through late this month. “I hope it will be a healthy and hopeful New Year,” the president of the company said.