An exhibition of figurines of next year's Eto "Tatsu" handmade using gourds was held in Sorei City, Chiba Prefecture.
Every year, a group of enthusiasts in Soei City holds an exhibition of gourds depicting Eto at this time, and about 150 works depicting next year's Eto "Tatsu" were exhibited.
The gourds are grown by the group in a variety of sizes and are accompanied by auspicious words such as "good luck," "health and longevity," and "family safety."
The design of "Tatsu" is relatively complex, so the members came up with a design and started working on it in June.
Artworks were also sold at the venue, and a woman who visited every year said, "I'm thinking of displaying it at the entrance of the welfare facility where I work."
Koichi Kase, the representative of the Shimotomiya Gourd Folk Crafts Club, who opened the exhibition, said, "Since wars were going on in various places this year, I hope that next year we will realize world peace with the idea of 'ending wars.'"