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Fish omikuji

KCP Student Maeve in Making Her Wishes Come True

The roots of Japanese superstitions  can be traced all the way back to Japan’s ancient pagan beliefs, the regard for certain natural things as  kami (spirits or phenomena that are worshipped in the religion of Shinto), and the animist culture.

Japanese lucky charms (engimono) represent wishes for good luck in harvest, business, health, love, and the like. Many engimono have been passed down over the years. Engimono make popular souvenirs or gift items from a particular area of Japan. One such lucky charm is Omikuji.

Omikuji are paper fortunes sold at most Japanese temples and shrines. About half of the omikuji predict bad fortune. It is customary to leave the fortune behind by tying it at a designated spot at the temple or shrine. If you receive a good luck paper fortune, you should keep it.

KCP Summer 2022 Student Maeve Hillengas fishes for luck at a temple in Japan.

Fishing for prophecies on life and love

Fishing for prophecies on life and love.

Have little luck, tie it to the postHave little luck, tie it to the post.

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Read all about Japanese immersion learning and studying abroad. Check out our eZasshi archives for more articles!