During lunchtime on 22 December 2025, the International Education and Student Mobility Division (IESMD) held an international exchange event entitled ‘Shimenawa making experience’.
Aimed at fostering connections between exchange and other students from partner universities — including those from Ukraine — and regular KyotoU students, the event featured traditional craft-making as an interaction-building activity. It was also designed to offer international students a chance to experience Japanese New Year traditions while giving KyotoU students an opportunity to explain aspects of Japanese culture in English.
At the beginning, KyotoU students serving as Peer Tutors at IESMD described in English some of the New Year holiday customs in Japan and the significance of shimenawa, a sacred garland, as an expression of wishes for the coming year.
The 33 participants then worked in pairs — each comprised of an international student and a Japanese student — on decorating their shimenawa. This involved making red-and-white shide paper streamers, origami folded into motifs chosen by each pair — such as cranes, turtles, or fans — and a card bearing New Year’s greetings written in calligraphy.
While deeply engaged in the activity, the international students were seen asking KyotoU peers questions about how to fold the origami and the meaning of the New Year’s greetings.
Everyone enjoyed preparing to welcome the New Year in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
A Peer Tutor explaining how people spend the New Year in Japan
The first step: making shide paper streamers
An international student practicing words to write on a card
A KyotoU student teaching origami techniques
With a completed shimenawa decoration
AloJapan.com