Omikuji-Secret Lots-

The 1st post in 2016, I'll introduce "Omikuji".

In new year's holiday, many Japanese visit a shrine or a temple and pray for a happy new year, and they draw Omikuji to cast a fortune. Most of Japanese shrines or temples have Omikuji.

Senso-ji temple, Asakusa

"Omikuji" is Japanese secret lots or oracle written on a piece of paper to tell one's fortune.

Here are the typical way to draw Omikuji.

First, pay coins (usually ¥100 to ¥300), and pull a number written on a wood stick.

Then, look for a drawer of the number and take one piece of paper in the drawer.

In the paper, your fortune is categorized in some grades.

These are representative fortunes.

• 大吉(dai-kichi)-Great Blessing
• 中吉(chu-kichi)-Middle Blessing
  
• 小吉(sho-kichi)-Small Blessing
  
• 吉(kimchi)-Blessing
  
• 末吉(sue-kochi)-Near Blessing
  
• 凶(kyo)-Curse
  
• 大凶(dai-kyo)-Great Curse

The Omikuji also predicts the person's fortune, marriage, movement, health problems, study, etc. 

If the prediction is bad, people fold this piece of paper and attach to a tree or metal wire. This custom means that people leave bad luck behind in a shrine or a temple and wait for changing to good luck.

On the other hand, if it's good, fold it and keep in their wallet.

When you are in Japan, you will visit at least one temple of shrine. Let's try Omikuji.

Nowadays, English version available at major shrines or temples.