Charge into the Year of the Horse! Welcome 2026!!
Dec 26, 2025
LOFT stores nationwide are rolling out their 2026 Year of the Horse New Year collection! Life gallops with passion. Never lose heart, never be defeated. As we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, good fortune will always be with you!
From auspicious spring-welcoming ornaments and Year of the Horse limited-edition New Year decorations to celebratory chopsticks and paper placemats, along with stylish red envelope designs... discover an array of festive items brimming with the spirit of the New Year. Embrace this "Year of the Horse good fortune" and kick off a fresh start for 2026!
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☀ A Quick Guide to Japanese Traditional Culture ☀
New Year decorations in Japan are a traditional cultural practice expressing wishes for family safety and happiness. Beyond the familiar Kadomatsu (pine decorations), Shimenawa (sacred ropes), and Kagami mochi (rice cakes), there are numerous symbolic items welcoming the New Year and spring. Customs vary slightly by prefecture, but decorations are generally set up after December 13th (the start of New Year preparations) and completed by the 28th (considered auspicious) or 30th. These decorations remain up until the end of the "Matsu-no-uchi" period (the time when Kadomatsu decorations are displayed during the New Year in Japan), which concludes on January 7th in the Kanto region and January 15th in the Kansai region of the following year. After the "Matsu-no-uchi" period, the proper practice is to take these New Year decorations to a shrine or temple for ceremonial burning. If visiting is not possible, it can be disposed of at home: first rinse it lightly with salt, then place it in a separate bag before discarding.
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Kadomatsu (Pine Decorations)
- Symbolism: Kadomatsu (Pine Decorations) mark the arrival of the New Year Deity (Toshigami-sama) and serve as its resting place. Pine symbolizes longevity, while bamboo signifies prosperity, making them essential spring decorations since ancient times.
- Placement: Typically placed in pairs on either side of the home entrance.
No time to buy plant Kadomatsu (Pine Decorations)? No worries! LOFT has prepared a mini type, which is ready for you! Featuring cranes and tortoises, symbols of "health and longevity," these elegantly designed, compact mini Kadomatsu (Pine Decorations) suit various settings.
Crane & Tortoise Mini Kadomatsu (Pair)
1,430 yen (tax included)
Shimenawa (Sacred Ropes)
- Symbolism: In traditional Japanese ceremonies, Shimenawa ropes mark sacred spaces, symbolizing purity and blessings. They are often paired with various auspicious items: Gleichenia japonica (symbolizing marital harmony), Oranges (signifying family prosperity), Yuzu leaves (representing generational continuity), and Paper streamers/ Shide (denoting sacredness and purity).
- Placement: Typically hung at entrances, doorways, or similar locations.
This decoration draws inspiration from traditional craftsmanship in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. Paired with a Year of the Horse zodiac ornament, it is handwoven from rice straw to achieve a natural, rustic aesthetic. The zodiac ornament signifies New Year blessings, while the first ears of rice symbolize the beginning of a bountiful harvest.
Echigo Inawara Kazari Eto Hatsuhō 817
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Echigo Zodiac Sign First Fruits Decoration 817
1,760 yen (tax included)
Other styles are also available!
Kagami Mochi (Rice Cake)
- Symbolism: Kagami mochi are offerings to the New Year Deity (Toshigami-sama), originating from the mythical mirror "Yata no Kagami (Yata no Kagami (八咫鏡) is a sacred bronze mirror that is part of the Imperial Regalia of Japan, which represents "wisdom" or "honesty.")." The round rice cakes symbolize perfection and are regarded as the symbolic vessel where the New Year Deity (Toshigami-sama) dwells.
- Placement: Typically placed in the living room or another central location within the home.
- Kagami biraki (Opening the mirror) Ceremony: Held on January 11th (or the 15th or 20th in some regions, depending on local tradition), people break open the Kagami mochi and eat it.
This Kagami mochi crafted for you by LOFT is made from glass, featuring exceptional transparency that naturally captures light and shadow. Its stable material ensures long-term display, making it a New Year decoration that combines aesthetic appeal with practicality.
Gokurakuji Garasu Kōbō Kagamimochi
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Gokurakuji Glass Kagamimochi
Medium: 5,940 yen (tax included)
Small: 3,850 yen (tax included)
* This item is for decorative purposes only and is not edible.
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As an ornament to welcome the New Year and wish for smooth sailing throughout the year, zodiac decorations have always been favored. Since ancient times, the horse has been regarded as a symbol of courage, speed, and career advancement because it can run after birth. Within tradition, these traits are often imbued with positive energy. Its dynamic form also embodies aspirations for progress and leaps forward, encouraging people to embrace challenges with a steadfast mindset, overcome difficulties, and stride toward a more promising future.
Yakushi Gama Kinsai Shōfuku Uma
Shōchikubai/ Ko Uma-tsuki/ Hamaya-tsuki
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Yakushi Gama Colorful Horse Ornament
Pine, Bamboo, and Plum Design
Mom and Baby Horse Design
Hamaya (Good luck arrow) Design
Priced at 770 yen to 1,100 yen (tax included)
This zodiac figurine comes from the "Yakushi Gama" brand under the Chugaitoen Company in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture. The central figure represents the Horse zodiac sign, symbolizing the beginning of the new year and traditional guardian spirits. It can be placed in elevated areas such as entryways or living rooms for daily viewing by family members, embodying wishes for household happiness.
< LOFT Exclusive >
Yakushi Gama Kinsai Shōfuku
Jūnishi-kazari Shiraki-dai Mochibana-tsuki
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Yakushi Gama Colorful Lucky Zodiac Animal Ornaments
With White Wood Stand and Mochi Flower
4,400 yen (tax included)
This ornament draws inspiration from rustic folk toys, featuring the "Dark Horse," a symbol of proactive ambition, in a special limited-edition colorway exclusively for LOFT.
As dark as shadow and swift as thunder, it breaks through barriers and forges paths into the infinite.
The "Dark Horse" embodies boundless potential to transcend conventions and continually surpass oneself.
< LOFT Exclusive >
Yakushi Gama Kinsai Shōfuku Suzu Uma
Ekoma Dorin, Black
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Yakushi Gama Lucky Horse Ornament
With Clay Bell, Black
1,980 yen (tax included)
This White Horse ornament with the meaning of all health and happiness blessings is crafted using Mino washi paper, each piece meticulously hand-applied by Japanese artisans. Accompanied by the unique melody of an earthen bell (a clay-fired bell), it carries people's hopes for peace and well-being in traditional ceremonies.
R-40 Eto Washi Hari Dorei (Small Size)
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All Health and Happiness blessings Horse Ornament
With Clay Bell, White (Small Size)
2,750 yen (tax included)
Ceramic zodiac decorations containing fortune slips. Available in two designs: tea-colored ceramic horse and white ceramic horse. Palm-sized, these serve as auspicious displays for the Year of the Horse 2026, perfect for decorating entryways, desks, or other spaces.
Shōfuku Eto Mikuji
Uma Cha, Uma Shiro
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Fortune-Bringing Zodiac Fortune Slips
Reddish Brown, White
Each priced at 594 yen (tax included)
In Japan, the lid of a sake barrel is called a "Kagami (Mirror)" due to its round and flat shape. The custom of breaking open the barrel lid and sharing the sake with others is also known as "Kagami biraki (Opening the mirror)." Traditionally, this symbolizes sharing and gathering, signifying the opening of one's heart to good fortune and welcoming good luck.
At celebratory banquets like New Year gatherings, the "Kagami biraki (Opening the mirror)" ceremony, where the barrel lid is struck open with a wooden mallet, adds festive cheer to the occasion, embodying hopes for a prosperous life.
This Kagami biraki (Opening the mirror) set features a magnetic "mirror plate" design for repeated use, facilitating the ongoing experience of traditional rituals. The wooden barrel can hold not only sake but also small gifts, making it suitable for celebratory occasions and other traditional events to enhance the cultural ambiance.
Mini Kagamibiraki Setto Chōju Kōun
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Mini Kagamibiraki Set Longevity & Luck Edition
10,670 yen (tax included)
This celebratory chopstick set features a soft chopstick sleeve crafted from Mino washi paper, adorned with a Mizuhiki decoration (Traditional Japanese decorative cord) shaped like a camellia flower. Whether for New Year celebrations or everyday occasions, it adds a touch of tradition and elegance to any table setting. The chopsticks themselves are made from Yoshino wood (Hinoki) sourced from Yoshino City in Nara Prefecture, renowned for its lustrous color and pleasant fragrance.
< LOFT Exclusive >
Mizuhiki-kazari Iwaibashi Kōhaku Tsubaki Momishi Shizeniri
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Water Pull Decorative Celebration Chopsticks
Red-and-White Camellia Cord Knot
Handmade Paper Packaging (Set of Four Pairs)
1,650 yen (tax included)
This five-pair celebration chopstick set features auspicious patterns designed by multiple creators* in their unique styles, blending traditional elements to evoke a festive atmosphere.
* Ikeda Kinue, ob1toy, Yoshie Kakimoto, Komori Natsumi, matsuomiyuki (listed in Japanese alphabetical order / honorifics omitted)
< LOFT Exclusive >
Celebration Chopstick Sleeve Set (5 pairs)
Each priced at 990 yen (tax included)
Paper Lunch Placemats (5 sheets)
Each priced at 990 yen (tax included)
Set Ikeda Kinue
Set ob1toy
Set Yoshie Kakimoto
Set Komori Natsumi
Set matsuomiyuki
Mino Washi placemats with gold leaf accents, featuring a plum blossom design and a soft, supple quality. Geometric lines outline the plum shapes, transforming mealtime into an art of living.
< LOFT Exclusive >
Plum-shaped Placemats with gold leaf accents (5 sheets)
990 yen (tax included)
This "Red Envelope Box" draws inspiration from the Japanese shrine's hexagonal omikuji box (used for fortune-telling sticks). Pre-filled with New Year's money, it allows recipients to draw a lucky fortune slip while receiving their gift, adding an element of fun. Available in four different designs, each style is charming and infused with a touch of auspicious hope.
< Limited Sales Channels >
Good Fortune! Cat Red Envelope Box
Each priced at 495 yen (tax included)
Fortune in Wealth, Luck in Prosperity, Success in Studies, Love in Romance
Usage: Open the box and place the money inside. Tear open the dotted line of the package to reveal the money and lucky fortune slip.
This Hagoita red envelope set comes with stickers that let you freely combine eyes, noses, mouths, and other features to create personalized designs. Just like Fukuwarai (a Japanese New Year's game where players, while blindfolded, try to stick facial features onto a blank face in the right spots), you can play around to make your own adorable patterns. Four designs are available to add diverse fun to your New Year red envelopes.
< Limited Sales Channels >
Fukuwarai! Hagoita Red Envelope Bag
Each priced at 495 yen (tax included)
Maneki-neko, Cat, Komainu, Shibainu
This red envelope bag features a playful design inspired by snack packaging, complete with a tear-off perforation for opening. Available in eight patterns, including popular classics like "JagaRico" and "Kanipan," it adds a touch of fun to gift-giving.
Snack Packaging Design Red Envelopes
Each pieced at 330 yen (tax included)
カットよっちゃん（Cut Yocchan）
タラタラしてんじゃねーよ（Taratara shi tenja ne ̄ yo）
かにぱん（Kani pan）
ビッグカツ（Biggukatsu）
ヨーグレット（Yōguretto）
ポテトチップス（Potetochippusu）
じゃがりこ サラダ（JagaRico Sarada）
じゃがりこ チーズ（JagaRico Chīzu）
Handmade stamps artist Fumiwo's humorous red envelope designs feature three prominent figures: Shibusawa Eiichi (Japanese industrialist, philanthropist, and politician), Tsuda Umeko (Japanese women's education pioneer), and Kitasato Shibasaburō (Japanese microbiologist and educator).
Red Envelope Bags - Humorous Celebrity Edition (3 bags)
220 yen (tax included)
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Welcome 2026
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Wishing you all the best in the coming year!!
Sales Channels: LOFT stores nationwide in Japan and LOFT NETSTORE*
* Product selection and stock may vary by store.
* Prices and product details are subject to change.
* For LOFT NETSTORE information, please refer to the following details.
< Notice of Service Disruption on LOFT NETSTORE
(LOFT Online Store) Due to Logistics System Failure >
Due to a logistics system failure, the LOFT NETSTORE (LOFT Online Store) has temporarily suspended services. We are actively working to resolve the issue. We deeply regret any inconvenience caused, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
