A beautiful wooden Ema votive plaque from Meiji Jingū Shrine (明治神宮), one of Tokyo’s most important Shinto shrines.
Dating from 2019 (Heisei 31), the Year of the Boar (己亥), this Ema features a charming illustration of a white wild boar accompanied by three playful piglets, beneath a green pine branch. In Japanese culture, the wild boar (Inoshishi) symbolizes courage, determination, perseverance, and protection. The pine tree represents longevity, resilience, and enduring good fortune, making this a meaningful design celebrating family, prosperity, and new beginnings.
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 an orange hanging cord, this vintage Ema is a charming piece of Japanese folk art and a meaningful collectible reflecting Japan's spiritual traditions and zodiac symbolism.
Size: 15 x 9cm
