NOTES

NOTES

12 29 2024

Kyoto, Japan
Hayato & Mika Nishiyama
from Mitate

A kadomatsu is traditionally placed at the entrance as a symbolic resting place for the Toshigami, the deity of the New Year, to welcome them. This custom originated in the Heian period with “Komatsuhiki,” an early form involving the pulling of young pine trees known as Nebikimatsu. By the Muromachi period, the decoration evolved into a form closer to what we recognize today, incorporating bamboo, pine, and plum branches.

 

This design reimagines the essence of the kadomatsu as a symbolic resting place, moving beyond the formalized styles that developed after the Muromachi period. Inspired by the tatesuna, conical sand mounds at Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto’s Kita Ward, it features a miniature mountain shape created by hand-piling sand into a glass container and standing a pine branch within it.

 

Compact yet mystical, this kadomatsu is crafted with modern living and architecture in mind, blending seamlessly with materials such as concrete and glass. Its size and materials suit contemporary spaces while maintaining its traditional and spiritual significance.