Zodiac hares all over the country

As 2022 drew to a close, the Chinese zodiac sign for 2023, could be seen throughout Japan.

The priests at Matsuo Taisha, one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto, erected an "ema" (wooden votive board) 3.2 meters tall, 5.5 meters wide, and weighing 90 kilograms, featuring an image of a rabbit. The ema will be on display until the end of March. (Filmed on November 29)

In the apple-growing city of Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture, fruit with rabbits and the year 2023 went on sale. Farmers create the effect by placing a sticker on the apple before its skin turns red. (Filmed on November 22)

In Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, artisans used strings of washi paper to make rabbit-shaped decorations for gifts. Each one takes around three hours to make. (Filmed on November 25)

And at the Ryu-ho Glass Museum in Abashiri City, Hokkaido, the master glass-blowers were turning out rabbit shaped figurines to help people ring in the new year. (Filmed on December 6)