Japanese Gardens » Shishi-Odoshi (Deer Scarer)

The Shishi-Odoshi "deer scarer" was orginally used by Japanese farmers to scare off deer and boar from their rice crops, and later it has become part of the Japanese garden, with the regular hollow knocking sound and running water made by the Shishi-Odoshi complements in serenity and silence of the Japanese garden today.

As the water flows from the "Kakehi" or bamboo water spout into the end of the Shishi-Odoshi the pivoted length of bamboo is tipped forward and the water runs out and then falls back onto a stone to create the "knocking noise". The regular hollow knocking sound and running water made by the Shishi-Odoshi complements the serenity and silence of the Japanese garden. Set on the edge of a pond or stream or "Dry" for decorative purposes the bamboo deer scarer is an essential and interesting element of any Japanese garden.

Our authentic Japanese Shishi-Odoshi are hand made in Japan using traditional methods of construction using "Scorched timber" and Bamboo and have the decorative Ura-Jumoni-Aya (black cross knot) tied in Shuronawa (black hemp).