*SHIPPING OPTIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE DESTINATION, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR MORE DETAILS.

This listing is for a vintage shinobi goma rice straw horse.  Shinobi goma are from Hanamaki town located in Iwate Prefecture.  They are a special talisman from Enmanji temple founded by Heian noble, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (758-811).  Traditionally shinobi goma were used as an auspicious item for finding a good marriage partner, or for praying for a bountiful harvest.  Those seeking a marriage partner would go out at night and secretly offer a straw horse in front of the main altar at Enmanji, making sure not to be seen by anyone.  There they would make a wish for marriage and for the prosperity of their descendants.  Once their wish was fulfilled, they would return to the temple and retrieve the horse they offered, again making sure not be seen by anyone.  The horse would then be decorated with red, black, and yellow cloth and dedicated once more in a show of gratitude. In 1966, shinobi goma became the design of the annual New Year's postage stamp and is still popular to this day.  The horse in this listing is probably around 30-40 years old and is decorated with light coloured ribbon.  It may have been purchased at Enmanji as a souvenir and never actually carried out its duty as a matchmaker.                                                                                                                           

Size

H.15.5cm (6.1”) x L.11cm (4.3”) x W.3.2cm (1.2”)                                                                    

Condition

It’s in very good condition.                                                                                                     

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-28 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Asia:  Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-21 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Central Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico:  EMS Express 10-15 days.

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.