Hari-Kuyō, celebrated on February 8, is the Japanese festival honoring broken sewing needles. It is a ritual of gratitude : women place worn or damaged needles in soft tofu or konjac to let them rest after their service, sometimes praying for improved skills. “Hari” means “needle” and “-kuyō” comes from a Sanskrit word, pūjā, meaning “to offer.”

Kokuzo Bosatsu is a bodhisattva and patron of handicrafts worshipped in Horinji Temple in Kyōto where Hari-kuyō is celebrated. This ritual is also meant as a prayer for improvement in one’s artistic and craft skills.