This is a bamboo rake and a charm for raking in good fortune sold at shrines during new year holidays.
Seven deities of good fortune drawn from Buddhistm, Shinto and Taoist traditions are on board a treasure ship. These deities are believed to give people longevity, talent of music and art and prosperity in business. It’s a popular custom for the Japanese to visit temples and shrines of these seven deities.
Egg plant, hawk and Mt. Fuji are something we can have happiness for the coming year if we have a dream of one of them during the new year holidays.
Rice straw rope is hung at the entrance of a house. An orange and fern are put onto the sacred straw rope with white paper. In the center of the rope, Somin Shorai, a name of a Chinese man is written. According to a legend, he was a poor younger brother who offered a room to Gozutenno, a Chinese deity who is believed to get rid of a bad luck whereas his rich older brother didn’t when the deity asked both of them for a room overnight. The younger brother became rich and happy with the help of the deity so
It’s believed if we put this name on the straw rope, we will be able to avoid bad luck. 
