A beautiful wooden Ema (絵馬) votive plaque from Meiji Jingū Shrine (明治神宮), one of Tokyo’s most important Shinto shrines.
Dating from 2010 (Heisei 22), the Year of the Tiger (庚寅), this Ema features a magnificent tiger walking beneath green bamboo, surrounded by delicate white snowy details. In Japanese culture, the tiger symbolizes courage, strength, protection, and the power to overcome difficulties.
Meiji Jingū (明治神宮) was established in 1920 and is dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852–1912) and Empress Shōken (1849–1914), who played significant roles in Japan's modernization during the Meiji era. Located in the heart of Tokyo, the shrine is surrounded by a vast sacred forest of approximately 100,000 trees donated from across Japan. It remains one of Japan's most significant spiritual landmarks, particularly popular for Hatsumōde, the traditional first shrine visit of the New Year.
In Japanese Shinto tradition, Ema are wooden plaques on which visitors write their wishes and prayers before hanging them at shrines as offerings to the deities.
Featuring the shrine's red seal and its orange hanging cord, this Ema is a charming piece of Japanese folk art and a meaningful collectible reflecting Japan's spiritual traditions.
