The Legend
In Japanese culture, 願い or negai, meaning "wish" or "desire," holds a deep and nuanced significance. It is not just about personal ambition, but often reflects a hope for harmony, well-being, and positive outcomes for oneself and others. Wishing in Japan is frequently tied to traditional and symbolic acts, emphasizing sincerity, effort, and the idea that one’s aspirations should align with the greater good.
This concept is widely seen in cultural customs and seasonal practices. For example, during Tanabata festival, people write their wishes on small pieces of paper called tanzaku and hang them on bamboo, expressing their hopes for the future. Similarly, at significant moments in life - such as exams, career advancements, or health-related concerns - people often engage in actions that symbolize their desires being carried forward. The underlying idea behind negai is not simply about wishing for luck, but about focusing one's intentions, maintaining a sense of determination, and fostering a positive mindset to bring about desired outcomes.
The NEGAI 願い Pendant
Much like the tanzaku used during the Tanabata festival, the NEGAI 願い pendant is a symbol of intentional hope. Crafted with precision and care, this minimalist accessory is designed with a hidden cavity, allowing the wearer to insert a handwritten note to express their hopes for the future.
Whether it's a life-long dream, a religious verse, a token of love, or a personal affirmation, The NEGAI 願い becomes a guardian for your most heartfelt aspirations.
Handcrafted from the same traditional folded steel as our other accessories, each Negai pendant is coated in 18k gold and reflects a perfect harmony between traditional elegance and personal meaning - making it suitable for any occasion. It is approximately 2.25 inches in length, and 0.25 inches across.
The NEGAI 願い pendant comes with a custom bamboo box, as well as a blank sheet of calligraphy paper that can be written on and used with the pendant.
Safety
As the smith does not mix chromium into the metal, your NEGAI pendant should be kept away from water (in order to protect the stored parchment as well). We have applied a layer of lacquer to give the pendant a measure of water resistance, but it is always better to be safe than sorry! As this layer will eventually wear off over the course of normal wear, it is highly recommended to replace it with a jewelry sealant (or an alternative) in a month or so to protect the finishing of the pendant and maintain its water resistance.
Stainless Option
Due to popular demand, we now offer a stainless clad variant of our NEGAI pendant! The metals used in the forging of this piece are of a lower carbon content with a limited chromium mix in order to provide greatly increased resistance to water based corrosion. Please note that this metal is not fully stainless, and thus should not be left exposed to water for extended periods of time.
As of the 3rd of May 2025, our smith has homogenized our steel variants into a single steel type that will be used across all of our pendants. As such, all pendants will now have the similar levels of quality and resistance as the variant previously titled as "Stainless Clad Steel" at a reduced price. Please reach out to us at info@hatanosen.com if you have any questions!
