Hello everyone, as always when I read new books and encounter words that inevitably lead me to explore their connection with the plot, I can't help but “give in,” proceeding and searching for the meaning of what prevents me from continuing reading. In this regard, I thought it would be interesting to share this curious and brief research with the few who have not yet had the opportunity to “encounter” the word in question and what it represents.

I have currently decided to enter with quiet respect into ‘Tsubaki Stationery Store’, a novel by Ito Ogawa, which seems promising and which I thought, at this moment when I am quite overwhelmed with other readings that are not always pleasant, would be useful for disconnecting and finding peace in settings that suit me particularly well, where stationery and everything related to writing instruments are abundantly present.

But let's get back to the point. The term in question, or rather the word that caught my attention, was “chinowa,” which universally symbolizes purification and protection. It is a traditional Japanese seasonal ritual that wishes good health.

Passing through the circle of fresh, clean herbs, it is said that once the ritual is performed, it is possible to be freed from illness and overcome the summer heat. But that's not all.

Chinowa is a circular structure, a ring of cogon grass (typically chigaya or straw) used in Shinto purification rituals. It is placed at the entrance to shrines twice a year, during two important ceremonies known as Nagoshi no Harae and Toshikoshi no Harae.

The first (Nagoshi no Harae) is celebrated on June 30 and is a ritual that aims to purify sins (tsumi), impurities (kegare), and bad deeds accumulated in the first half of the year.

The second (Toshikoshi no Harae) takes place on December 31, at the end of the year, and is designed to completely purify the impurities and sins accumulated throughout the year.

But it is also intended as a chinowa-kuguri rite of passage, in which the faithful pass through the ring three times, following a specific path in the shape of an “eight” or infinity symbol. This symbolizes the elimination of negative energies and spiritual renewal.

Its historical and legendary origins should not be underestimated. In fact, the ritual seems to have very ancient roots and is linked to a thousand-year-old story about a poor family who welcomed the god Susanoo-no-Mikoto (a Shinto deity known for his violent and impulsive nature, god of storms, seas, and hurricanes, also famous for killing the eight-headed dragon Yamata No Orochi) into their home, they received in return, as a sign of gratitude for their hospitality, a ring of magical grass to protect their descendants from illness and misfortune.

But nowadays there also seems to be a more modern version of the ritual, which, in addition to the physical passage, allows people to write their names and wishes on a hitogata (a paper silhouette), where everyone can blow on it to transfer their misfortunes and offer it to the shrine as part of the purification ritual. Amulets, other votive objects, and prayers can also be offered.

As a small but interesting additional note, it seems that the largest chinowa measured about 11 m (36 feet and 1 inch) in diameter and was made in Nagoya, Aichi, on June 28, 2009.

Ultimately, chinowa represents an act of personal and collective renewal, an invitation to eliminate the old to make room for the new, to purify oneself not only physically but also spiritually. This practice is still very much alive in Japanese communities, combining faith, culture, and nature in a ritual that helps to overcome trials and rediscover balance and inner strength. 

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