This charming pair of rat (nezumi) zodiac figurines from Ise Jingū 伊勢神宮 embodies the quiet elegance and spiritual refinement associated with Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine. Rendered in smooth white ceramic, the two rats face one another in a gentle, almost conversational pose, suggesting harmony, partnership, and the promise of new beginnings—qualities traditionally linked to the rat as the first animal of the zodiac cycle.
Their forms are softly rounded yet subtly faceted, giving a contemporary touch to an otherwise timeless folk aesthetic. The glossy white glaze enhances their purity and simplicity, echoing the Shinto ideals of cleanliness and sincerity that are central to Ise Jingū. Minimal detailing—delicate ears, slightly pointed snouts, and poised seated bodies—allows the figures to convey expression through form alone, resulting in a calm and endearing presence.
As an eto (zodiac) ornament, the rat symbolizes prosperity, fertility, and the start of a new cycle, making this pair especially meaningful when displayed at the turn of the year. Connected to Ise Jingū, a site dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu and rebuilt every twenty years in a tradition of renewal, these figurines carry an added resonance of rebirth, continuity, and quiet auspiciousness.
