Hemp History23 Aug, 2025
Hemp for the Emperor: Japan’s Sacred Tradition Lives On
Hempco Admin2 Mins. Read
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Hempco Admin
When you think of hemp, you might picture eco-friendly clothing or building materials. In Japan, this humble plant carries a much deeper meaning — it’s woven into the very fabric of spiritual life. In 2019, that meaning stepped back into the spotlight when locals in Tokushima Prefecture revived hemp cultivation to produce 50 kilometres of twine for Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement. Their craftsmanship became part of the ceremonial fabric (aratatae) used in the sacred Daijōsai ritual — the once-in-a-reign ceremony where the emperor offers thanks to the deities and symbolically receives their blessing for the nation (Kyodo News).
This story reminds us that hemp isn’t just about products — it’s about heritage, ritual and identity.
The revival wasn’t a simple task. Since World War II, hemp has been strictly regulated in Japan under the Cannabis Control Act of 1948, with only a handful of farmers licensed to grow it (Wikipedia – Cannabis in Japan). For this special occasion, local farmers and artisans worked under special permission to grow, spin and weave the twine.
The finished thread was handed to the Inbe weavers, descendants of a clan historically responsible for producing sacred hemp cloth for the Imperial family (Wikipedia – Inbe Shrine). Their skill kept alive a tradition that had supplied emperors for centuries — a living link between past and present.
In Shinto, Japan’s indigenous spirituality, hemp has long symbolised purity and protection. Its fibres were traditionally woven into shimenawa — the thick ropes you still see draped over shrine gates and sacred trees. These ropes mark the boundary between the human and the divine, and were believed to ward off evil.
Today, most shimenawa are made of rice straw, a switch that happened after hemp restrictions in 1948 (Wikipedia – Shimenawa). But the symbolism of hemp — its strength, purity and life-giving qualities — still lingers in the rituals where it survives.
For those outside Japan, this story is a reminder that hemp is far more than just a sustainable crop. It’s part of our shared human heritage, woven into ceremonies, spirituality and daily life across cultures.
At Margaret River Hemp Co, we’re inspired by stories like this. Just as Japanese farmers and weavers revived their traditions to honour an emperor, we work to keep hemp thriving here in Australia — not just as a material for skincare, clothing and building, but as a plant that symbolises resilience, renewal and respect for nature.
Hemp’s role in Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement shows us that tradition still matters — and that sustainability is not only about the future, but also about honouring the past.
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