Japanese Sake and Sugidama

Test your Japanese culture knowledge… Do you know what this is?

If you guessed “sideways-furry-moon”, you’re wrong.

It is what is called a “sugidama”（杉玉）. Or, ball of cedar? Don’t translate that.

I really don’t know how they are made, but they are normally hung outside of sake shops in Japan. I also do not know why sugi is associated with sake.. Anyway though, if you want Sake, look for the giant ball of cedar…

Jim Breen’s translation engine translates each component as such.

杉 【すぎ】 (n) Japanese cedar; cryptomeria japonica; (P); EP 玉 【ぎょく; たま; だま】 (ぎょく) (n) (abbr) king (shogi); (たま) (n,n-suf) ball; sphere; coin; (だま) ; (n,n-suf) ball; sphere; coin; SP

There is no translation with the both together.

The Japanese wikipedia entry for Sugidama explains that it is an object made of the leaves of the cedar tree. It is also called “sakabayashi”. Ahhh, and also, these are traditionally not decorated outside of sake shops in Japan all the time, but are especially put on display to announce that NEW sake has been brewed (can you say “brewed” for sake?) at the shop.

When the sugidama is first hung, the leaves are still green, but it quickly fades to the brown color you see in the second picture. With this change of color, customers can feel how new the sake at the shop may be.

These days, the sugidama is really only used as a type of sign to help customers recognize the sake shop, but originally it was more of an object expressing thanks to the gods.

Thank the gods for Sake.

- Harvey