A Memorial Service for Scissors

In my previous post I introduced "Stationery Scissors Day," an official and registered anniversary of August 3rd annually. But is it not the only commemoration of scissors on August 3rd. It is also Scissors Day ハサミの日 , a fascinating anniversary for several reasons. 

The day was proposed in 1977 by Aiko Yamano, a well‑known beauty expert and founder of the Yamano Gakuen schools. She modeled it after the tradition of needle memorial rites (針供養) and suggested a similar ceremony for scissors, called "hasami kuyo" (ハサミ供養). It is literally a memorial service for scissors. Old and / or broken scissors are laid to rest with gratitude for their years of use before being placed in a mound on the temple grounds.

The ceremony takes place at Zōjōji Temple in Tokyo, where professionals in beauty, barbering, tailoring, and dressmaking gather on this day to express appreciation for their scissors. They pray before a statue on the grounds called Hasami Kannon, asking for improved skill and good fortune in their craft.