Chinowa Motif / Deerskin Cord Included

This ring-shaped shimenawa pendant is inspired by the Chinowa, a traditional symbol of purification and protection from misfortune during the Japanese summer.

At Shinto shrines in Japan, people traditionally pass through a large Chinowa ring as a ritual to ward off misfortune and pray for good health.

For this piece, I reimagined the symbolic form of the Chinowa as a small ring that can be worn in everyday life.

By combining the familiar form of a ring pendant with the sculptural elements of traditional Japanese shimenawa rope and shide, I aimed to create:

“A form everyone has seen, yet a piece of jewelry no one has ever seen before.”

The circular form symbolizes continuity, sacred boundaries, and protection.

By adding shide, the piece expresses an even stronger sense of the sacred atmosphere deeply rooted in Japanese tradition.

Kenichi Asano Limited Custom Edition

This piece is a special edition available exclusively through the Kenichi Asano official online store.

Based on the standard All Sterling Silver 925 model, the rope texture of each pendant is individually carved by hand by the sculptor, bringing out the fibrous character, depth, and shadows of an actual shimenawa rope.

Because every piece is hand-carved, the depth of the carving, the flow of the rope texture, and the way it catches the light will vary from piece to piece.

Combined with the gently moving shide, the pendant reveals subtle changes in light and shadow not only when still, but also when worn.

This gives each piece a sculptural presence that cannot be achieved through industrial mass production.

This model is strictly limited to 10 pieces worldwide.

Each piece is individually marked with an edition number, making every pendant part of a worldwide edition of only ten.

Two Designs

This series is available in two designs:

Shide Model

Shimenawa-Only Model

Shide Model

The Shide Model combines the shimenawa ring with shide and is the most symbolic expression of the series.

As the shide gently move with the wearer, they create changing highlights and shadows, further emphasizing the sacred character of the Chinowa and shimenawa.

It is a piece that brings the atmosphere of Japanese culture and Shinto shrines into everyday life.

Shimenawa-Only Model

The Shimenawa-Only Model offers a simpler interpretation that focuses on the sculptural beauty of the circular form itself.

With fewer decorative elements, the three-dimensional texture and strength of the shimenawa become the focus.

Material

This model is crafted entirely from Sterling Silver 925.

The solid silver construction gives the piece a substantial weight and a calm, refined brilliance.

Each rope pattern is then individually carved by hand.

As light falls across the carved surface, the variations in depth create subtle shadows and textures that cannot be reproduced through uniform machine processing.

Size

The pendant is designed to be easy to incorporate into everyday outfits while still allowing the three-dimensional form of the shimenawa rope to stand out.

• Inner diameter: approx. 24 mm
• Outer diameter: approx. 34.5 mm
• Shimenawa rope thickness: approx. 5 mm

With an outer diameter of approximately 3.5 cm, the pendant has a balanced presence when worn—not too small, yet not overly large.

Paired with the approximately 70 cm deerskin cord, it is designed to fall naturally slightly below the chest for a relaxed, well-balanced look.

Add to the Features section:

• Inner diameter: approx. 24 mm / Outer diameter: approx. 34.5 mm / Shimenawa rope thickness: approx. 5 mm

Deerskin Cord

This piece comes with a deerskin cord approximately 70 cm long.

It is designed to be worn at a longer length, allowing the pendant to fall slightly below the chest.

Compared with a silver chain, the deerskin cord has a softer, more natural presence and does not overpower the pendant.

It works naturally with a wide range of styles, including T-shirts, shirts, and jackets, making the piece easy to incorporate into everyday outfits.

The organic texture of the deerskin also complements the sculptural forms of the shimenawa and shide.

As a Fashion Piece

Although inspired by traditional Japanese culture, the pendant has been designed to blend naturally with contemporary fashion.

Its familiar ring form makes it easy to style without making the traditional Japanese elements feel overly pronounced.

It can be worn naturally with T-shirts, shirts, jackets, and a wide variety of everyday styles.

As a talisman for protection during the summer.

And as a piece of jewelry designed to accompany you in everyday life.

Features

• Inspired by the Chinowa, a traditional Japanese symbol of summer purification and protection
• Reinterprets the familiar ring pendant through the sculptural forms of Japanese shimenawa and shide
• Crafted entirely from Sterling Silver 925
• Each rope texture is individually hand-carved by the sculptor
• Every piece has its own unique texture, shadows, and character
• Limited to 10 pieces worldwide, each individually edition-numbered
• Includes an approximately 70 cm deerskin cord
• Softer and more natural in appearance than a silver chain, making it easy to incorporate into everyday outfits
• Moving shide create subtle changes in light, shadow, and expression
• A special custom edition limited to only ten pieces worldwide

Made to Order

This piece is made to order.

Each pendant is individually produced, hand-carved, and finished after your order is placed.

Please allow approximately two weeks before shipping.

About This Piece

Shimenawa traditionally symbolize the boundary between sacred space and the everyday world.

The Chinowa represents purification from misfortune and a ritual of renewal at the changing of the seasons.

Shide are also an important symbol of sacred space within Japan’s Shinto tradition.

This piece reinterprets these traditional Japanese forms of protection and symbolism as a contemporary piece of jewelry.

For this Limited Custom Edition, the sculptural expression is taken one step further, with each shimenawa texture individually carved by hand by the sculptor.

The hand-carved surface gives every piece its own unique shadows and character, while the gently moving shide add another layer of expression when worn.

It is more than simply a piece of jewelry.

It is:

“A small sculpture you can wear.”

Only 10 pieces exist worldwide.

Each one has its own unique character, making every piece truly one of a kind.