SHIMEKAZARI JAPANESE CULTURE
Shimekazari is a decorative sacred straw rope festooned with strips of white paper. It is decoratcd with a piece of bitter orange, a lobster, and green tern leaves. It is hung above the entrance of house to purify the home the New Year. Bitter orange is symbolic of continued good health in the family, and lobster is a symbol of longevity.
A house with shimekazari is believed to be pure, with no devils able to enter.