A needle memorial service is an event to express gratitude for the care given to needles. Food, clothing and shelter are essential for us, but needles are essential to making clothing. We are able to live thanks to needles every day. Therefore, instead of throwing away the broken needles, we carefully store them and hold a memorial service for them on February 8th every year. Awashima Shrine is dedicated to Shonahikona, the god of sewing. On Needle Memorial Day, people take a break from sewing and deposit the broken needles they collect at the shrine. By doing so, we express our gratitude for the blessings of the needles and pray that they will be used with care in the future.