This delightful Rat Kōgō (子 香合) from Ikuta Shrine (生田神社) is a charming New Year keepsake inspired by Japan's rich zodiac traditions. The design features a tiny white rat perched atop a traditional rice bale (俵, tawara), which opens to reveal a small compartment for storing incense.
The Rat (Nezumi, 子) is the first animal of the Japanese Zodiac (Eto, 干支) and represents new beginnings, prosperity, wisdom, fertility, and abundance. In Japanese folklore, rats are closely associated with plentiful harvests because they gather where rice is abundant. Perched upon a rice bale—a timeless symbol of wealth and nourishment—the little rat embodies the wish for overflowing fortune and a prosperous year ahead.
This special piece was offered by Ikuta Shrine (生田神社), one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, founded over 1,800 years ago in present-day Kobe. Dedicated to Wakahirume-no-Mikoto, the shrine is especially revered for blessings related to good fortune, harmonious relationships, safe journeys, and the vitality of life.
In the Japanese tea ceremony, a kōgō (香合) is traditionally used to hold small pieces of incense before they are placed into the brazier. Beyond its ceremonial role, it also serves beautifully as a miniature keepsake box for tiny treasures or simply as a decorative object that celebrates Japanese culture and seasonal traditions.
Size: 5 x 3 x 3.5cm
