Magatama: A Shape Japan Has Been Wearing for 7,000 Years

What We Mean by “Japanese Design”

When people think of “Japanese design,” many images come to mind.

Ukiyo-e prints, daruma dolls, maneki-neko, traditional patterns, or the kind of minimalism often associated with Zen.
Most of these styles took shape between the medieval and early modern periods, developing into what we now recognize as a distinct Japanese aesthetic.

But Japan also has designs that are far older.
Some date back to a time before written records even existed—among the oldest forms of design in the country.

A small, curved bead.
A round shape with a hole, and a tail-like projection.
It can look like a comma, or a crescent moon.

This is the magatama.

Most Japanese people recognize the shape instantly, even if they don’t know the name.
It appears in school textbooks and museums, but also as jewelry or decorative motifs—so familiar that it’s hard to remember where you first saw it.

A Shape Older Than Written History

Magatama from around the 3rd century (Tokyo National Museum).

The origins of the magatama go back around 7,000 years, to the Jōmon period.
This was long before writing took root in Japan.

So what did this mysterious shape mean?
In truth, no one knows for certain.

Some theories suggest it represents a fetus, others say it resembles an animal’s fang or claw, or perhaps the moon.
In a time when sensation came before language, people likely felt a kind of power in the form itself.

Magatama are thought to have been used as ritual objects or burial goods.
They were placed in the graves of powerful figures and became closely associated with belief and authority.

Over time, magatama came to be made from a wide variety of materials.
Not only stone, but jade, jasper, agate, and even glass were used, depending on the period and region.

Magatama as Symbols of Power and Authority

I once wrote about Himiko, the mysterious queen of third-century Japan.

Himiko: Japan’s First Celebrity and the Mystery of Her Kingdom
She is said to have ruled through spiritual power, more shaman than monarch, though her true appearance remains unknown.

Yet in illustrations, manga, and films, she is almost always depicted wearing a magatama necklace.
There are records suggesting magatama were sent to China as tribute during her era, so this image is not pure fantasy.
When people hear the phrase “ancient shaman queen,” magatama feel like the most natural adornment to imagine.

As history moved into the Kofun period, a time when emperors begin to appear more clearly in the historical record, something interesting happened.
Designs rooted in Japan’s deepest cultural layers were gradually absorbed into official symbols of the state.

Magatama became one of the Three Imperial Regalia, alongside a mirror and a sword.
The jewel in this trio is known as the Yasakani no Magatama.

Mythology even records the gods who created such jewels, and within the early governing system there were specialized groups responsible for making them.
The place name Tamatsukuri in present-day Osaka is said to derive from “making jewels,” and was likely a production center.
Tamatsukuri Onsen in Shimane is also located near what myth describes as the birthplace of magatama.

A magatama monument in Tamatsukuri Onsen, Shimane — a place long associated with the origins of these ancient jewels.

Why magatama were so essential is still unclear.
But their power lay in their antiquity.
Because their origins reached so far into the past, they could symbolize legitimacy and continuity for a new form of rule.

A Design Without a Single Religion

Colorful magatama on display (Crystal World, Okachimachi).

And today?

Magatama are no longer confined to museum display cases.
They live on as necklaces, charms, and design motifs.
At flea markets and online shops, you’ll find handmade magatama made from natural stone or metal—often described simply as “cute.”

They are often sold at Shinto shrines, but this does not mean they belong exclusively to Shinto belief.
In fact, magatama long predate Shinto itself and were never tied to any single formal religion.

Perhaps because of this deep and flexible origin, modern magatama are enjoyed in remarkably free ways.
Some people choose a magatama made from their birthstone, treating it much like a personal talisman.
Others are drawn to contemporary designs, including playful versions with character motifs.

There is no single owner, no patent.
It is a shared design, open to anyone.

Why the Shape Still Works

Magatama also fit surprisingly well with modern tastes for power stones and healing accessories.
They are ancient, slightly mysterious, and impossible to fully explain.
And conveniently enough, they already come with a hole for a string.

A design that has survived nearly 7,000 years with its shape largely unchanged.
If this slightly pop, slightly mystical form speaks to you, why not pick one up?

To take home a small piece of Japanese history, belief, and time itself—
a magatama might just be the perfect Japanese souvenir.

Where to Buy Magatama in Tokyo

Magatama-inspired designs and accessories can be found all over Japan.
Here are three spots in Tokyo that are especially easy to visit and well worth a stop while sightseeing.

TAMAYURA by Anahita Stones (Sumida / Tokyo Skytree)

A rabbit statue wearing a magatama necklace greets visitors.
The rabbit is a key figure in Izumo mythology.

Located inside Tokyo Skytree’s Solamachi shopping complex, TAMAYURA by Anahita Stones specializes in natural stone accessories.
They produce and sell Izumo-style magatama—rounded, softly shaped pieces made in Izumo, a region closely associated with Japan’s creation myths.

Crystal World (Okachimachi)

A natural stone specialty shop in Okachimachi, an area known as Tokyo’s jewelry district and just a short walk from popular sightseeing spots in Ueno.

Among rows of gemstones and minerals, the store has a dedicated magatama section featuring pieces in a wide range of materials and colors.

SUI (Ikebukuro)

A specialty shop focusing on Japanese jade from Itoigawa, Niigata—one of the few sources of native jade in Japan.
Located just steps from Ikebukuro Station, the store offers a rich selection of jade accessories, including handcrafted magatama made from domestic jade.