The origin of the use of _shimenawa_ on New Year’s day may be traced back to mythological times when the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu, was tempted forth from the cave into which, through fear of her brother, she had retired. In order to entice her from her hiding place, all the gods assembled together and, bringing with them a dancer, made such a commotion that the “heavenly ancestor of the emperor” peeped out. Her face was reflected in a mirror which they had hung upon a tree. Never before had she gazed upon her own beauty, and thinking it the countenance of a rival, she stepped forth. She was prevented from returning by a fellow deity who stretched a straw rope across the opening of her retreat. During her retirement all the earth had been in darkness. As she emerged, the warm light of the sun spread over the world and joy returned to the people. A survival of the belief in this legend is to be seen to this day at a certain spot on the shore of Owari Bay. There, at Futami, two tower-like rocks, known at the “Husband and Wife Rocks” (Myōto-seki) jut out of the waves close to the beach. They are joined together by a straw rope which some say represents the bond of conjugal union. Others see in it a hindrance against the entrance of the Plague God. However, these rocks are popularly thought to represent the cave into which the Sun Goddess retired. On this account many people journey to Myōto-seki before dawn on New Year’s day, in order to see the first rays of the sun emerge on the horizon between these two rocks, thereby witnessing the re-appearance of the Sun Goddess who is restrained by the _shimenawa_ from re-entering her retreat.