Uploaded August 2020 | Updated September 2026, 8 hours ago
The Shishi Odoshi is an ancient deer frightening device found in Japanese gardens. However, if you don’t have a Japanese garden, the Shishi Odoshi is a perfect addition to any water garden. It adds movement, sound and a beauty to your new house.
How does it work? As water fills the Shishi Odoshi, the weight, forces the bamboo to spill the water. When this happens the bamboo teeters up and hits a rock behind it. The sudden noise startles deer and frightens them away.
Materials Needed:
- large piece of bamboo, approximately 1 1/2 inch in diameter (you can also use the base of a bamboo tiki torch)
- four pieces of smaller bamboo (1/2 inch in diameter)
- existing submersible pump in water garden
- clear plastic tubing
- rafin or other natural twine
Tools Needed:
- hand saw
- drill with two bits: one to match the diameter of the smaller bamboo, and one thin enough to drill out the inside of the smaller bamboo.
- rubber mallet
Steps for building a Shishi Odoshi
Step 1
Cut the piece of large bamboo. First things first, cut a piece of large bamboo, making sure there is a joint in the middle. Cut one of the ends to an angle. Next drill a hole through the bamboo directly behind the joint at the opposite end of the angled cut. The section with the angled end must hold water; therefore the hole must be on the other side of the joint.
Step 2
Install the cross member. Insert a piece of the smaller bamboo through the hole. The bamboo should move freely in the hole, creating a teetering motion.
Step 3
Install the supports. Using several pieces of smaller bamboo, install supports in the ground at the correct location. Remember the large piece of bamboo must extend over the water’s surface.
Step 4
Assemble the Shishi Odoshi. Next, place the cross member on the supports. Test the motion, then attach the cross member to the supports using natural twine.
Step 5
Assemble the water shoot. Using a thin drill bit, drill out a smaller section of bamboo. At each joint in the bamboo, there is a solid disc of wood. In order for water to flow through the bamboo, the joints must be drilled out. Connect the bamboo to a section of clear tubing, then connect the tubing to the pump. Turn the pump on to test the water flow. Finally, support the bamboo so the water is shooting into the Shishi Odoshi.
Step 5
Make adjustments. You may have to slightly adjust the Shishi Odoshi to achieve maximum performance.
NOTE: Don’t forget to place a rock under the Shishi Odoshi. This will allow the bamboo to strike something solid.
The Shishi Odoshi is an ancient deer frightening device found in Japanese gardens. However, if you don’t have a Japanese garden, the Shishi Odoshi is a perfect addition to any water garden. It adds movement, sound and a beauty to your new house.
How does it work? As water fills the Shishi Odoshi, the weight, forces the bamboo to spill the water. When this happens the bamboo teeters up and hits a rock behind it. The sudden noise startles deer and frightens them away.
Materials Needed:
- large piece of bamboo, approximately 1 1/2 inch in diameter (you can also use the base of a bamboo tiki torch)
- four pieces of smaller bamboo (1/2 inch in diameter)
- existing submersible pump in water garden
- clear plastic tubing
- rafin or other natural twine
Tools Needed:
- hand saw
- drill with two bits: one to match the diameter of the smaller bamboo, and one thin enough to drill out the inside of the smaller bamboo.
- rubber mallet
Steps for building a Shishi Odoshi
Step 1
Cut the piece of large bamboo. First things first, cut a piece of large bamboo, making sure there is a joint in the middle. Cut one of the ends to an angle. Next drill a hole through the bamboo directly behind the joint at the opposite end of the angled cut. The section with the angled end must hold water; therefore the hole must be on the other side of the joint.
Step 2
Install the cross member. Insert a piece of the smaller bamboo through the hole. The bamboo should move freely in the hole, creating a teetering motion.
Step 3
Install the supports. Using several pieces of smaller bamboo, install supports in the ground at the correct location. Remember the large piece of bamboo must extend over the water’s surface.
Step 4
Assemble the Shishi Odoshi. Next, place the cross member on the supports. Test the motion, then attach the cross member to the supports using natural twine.
Step 5
Assemble the water shoot. Using a thin drill bit, drill out a smaller section of bamboo. At each joint in the bamboo, there is a solid disc of wood. In order for water to flow through the bamboo, the joints must be drilled out. Connect the bamboo to a section of clear tubing, then connect the tubing to the pump. Turn the pump on to test the water flow. Finally, support the bamboo so the water is shooting into the Shishi Odoshi.
Step 5
Make adjustments. You may have to slightly adjust the Shishi Odoshi to achieve maximum performance.
NOTE: Don’t forget to place a rock under the Shishi Odoshi. This will allow the bamboo to strike something solid.
