Japanese superstitions
1. The north facing pillow
You should never sleep with your head in North position or you will have a short life (this is the way a body is laid out at Buddist funerals).
2. Clipping nails at night
Cutting your fingernails or toenails at night is bad luck. If you do so, i
You should never sleep with your head in North position or you will have a short life (this is the way a body is laid out at Buddist funerals).
2. Clipping nails at night
Cutting your fingernails or toenails at night is bad luck. If you do so, i
t is believed that you will not be with your parents at their deathbed.
3. Sticking your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice
Chopsticks should not be stuck upright into food, especially rice. Chopsticks are only stuck upright into rice in the bowl on the altar at a funeral.
4. Giving food from chopstick to chopstick
Food should never be passed chopstick-to-chopstick as this is done in a ceremony where bone fragments from cremated remains are placed in an urn. This is called "hotokebashi."
5. Whistling at night
Many Japanese superstitions come from old folk wisdom—If you whistle or play a flute at night, snakes will come to you.When they say snake, it means a thief. This practically means not to bother your neighbors since night time is quiet time, and those who make noise will be targeted by the bad guys.
6. The broken geta sandal or comb
In the west, it’s the breaking of a mirror which signals bad things to come, while in Japan, breaking a comb or the cloth strap of a "geta" wooden sandal is an omen of misfortune.
7. Unsettling catfish
According to Japanese mythology, earthquakes were created by the angry but sacred giant catfish. So, when catfish starts to become unsettling, earthquake will break out soon. Some may consider this superstition as an extent of the mythical belief, but others suggest there could be a scientific evidence to back it up. We all know wild animal’s instinct wins over the human’s; so this superstition could be true.
8. Seeing a spider at night
If you see a spider in the morning, it means good luck so you shouldn't kill it, but if you see one at night, it means bad luck so you can kill it.
9. Yakudoshi (bad luck) year
Men and women are known to have different bad luck years when obstacles and suffering are known to peak. If your age is represented below, don’t despair, as a few hundred yen at a local shrine will get you a special amulet or omamori–remember to ask for the one specifically formulated for the yakudoshi, and carry it with you at all times.
As tempting as it may be, don’t open the amulet pouch, as you’ll be hit with a double whammy of yakudoshi and bachi (curse).
Yakudoshi years for men: 24,41,60 (bad luck)
25,42,61 (super bad luck)
Yakudoshi years for women: 18,32,36 (bad luck)
19,33,37 (super bad luck)
10. Women born during the year of the fire horse
The year of the fire horse, or hinoe uma(丙午) occurs every 60 years– women born then are considered fiery enough to destroy men, thus rendering them unlucky in love and marriage. If you think you are married to one, or are one yourself, you or your spouse would have had to be born in 1906 or 1966.The next hinoe uma year is 2026.
11. Hide your belly from the thunder god
If you sleep with your belly button exposed during a thunderous night, you may wake up the next day and realize that that your belly button had been taken by the thunder god—or so the folklore goes.
12. Writing someone's name in red ink
You should never write a person's name in red ink. This is due to names on graves being red. This one is actually important for business men in Japan.
13. Crow's eyes
If you catch a crow's eyes, something bad will happen.
14. Black cat
If a black cat crosses your path, something bad will happen. This is actually imported from Western culture.
15. Floating green tea stalk in the cup
If green tea’s stalk floats vertically in a cup, it brings a good luck. This was a clever word-of-mouth sales tactic created by tea makers back in the days. Leafy green teas were cheaper kind, and the one that contained stalks were more expensive kind. Clearly, the superstition was in order to boost the sales of the more expensive kind, and it worked like a charm.
16. Lying down after meal
If you rest just after eating, you will become a cow/pig/elephant. This actually means not to be lazy.
17. Playing with fire
If you play with fire, you will wet your bed. It makes children become aware of the danger of fire.
18. First dream of a new year
The first dream of a new year will come true.
19. Stepping on the cloth border of a tatami mat
This brings bad luck.
20. Throwing salt
If you go to a funeral, you should throw salt over yourself before entering your home. This is believed to be cleansing.
21. Maneki Neko(lucky cat)
Use of the Maneki Neko or "lucky cat." Many businesses such as shops or restaurants have figures of such beckoning cats. These are considered to be lucky and bring in money and fortune.
22. Swimming during the Obon season (August)
When you swim during the Obon season, the returning dead will take you away with them.
23. Sneezing
If you sneeze once, you're being spoken of well. If you sneeze twice, the opposite is true. Three times and someone loves you, and four times, you have a cold.Ans if you hiccup 100 times consecutively, you will die.
24. Wearing new shoes
If you wear new shoes on tatami (traditional Japanese flooring) and go outside, your career will not be successful. And also, you have to wear new shoes in the morning.
25. Wishing on a shooting star
If you wish on a shooting star three times, your wish comes true.
3. Sticking your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice
Chopsticks should not be stuck upright into food, especially rice. Chopsticks are only stuck upright into rice in the bowl on the altar at a funeral.
4. Giving food from chopstick to chopstick
Food should never be passed chopstick-to-chopstick as this is done in a ceremony where bone fragments from cremated remains are placed in an urn. This is called "hotokebashi."
5. Whistling at night
Many Japanese superstitions come from old folk wisdom—If you whistle or play a flute at night, snakes will come to you.When they say snake, it means a thief. This practically means not to bother your neighbors since night time is quiet time, and those who make noise will be targeted by the bad guys.
6. The broken geta sandal or comb
In the west, it’s the breaking of a mirror which signals bad things to come, while in Japan, breaking a comb or the cloth strap of a "geta" wooden sandal is an omen of misfortune.
7. Unsettling catfish
According to Japanese mythology, earthquakes were created by the angry but sacred giant catfish. So, when catfish starts to become unsettling, earthquake will break out soon. Some may consider this superstition as an extent of the mythical belief, but others suggest there could be a scientific evidence to back it up. We all know wild animal’s instinct wins over the human’s; so this superstition could be true.
8. Seeing a spider at night
If you see a spider in the morning, it means good luck so you shouldn't kill it, but if you see one at night, it means bad luck so you can kill it.
9. Yakudoshi (bad luck) year
Men and women are known to have different bad luck years when obstacles and suffering are known to peak. If your age is represented below, don’t despair, as a few hundred yen at a local shrine will get you a special amulet or omamori–remember to ask for the one specifically formulated for the yakudoshi, and carry it with you at all times.
As tempting as it may be, don’t open the amulet pouch, as you’ll be hit with a double whammy of yakudoshi and bachi (curse).
Yakudoshi years for men: 24,41,60 (bad luck)
25,42,61 (super bad luck)
Yakudoshi years for women: 18,32,36 (bad luck)
19,33,37 (super bad luck)
10. Women born during the year of the fire horse
The year of the fire horse, or hinoe uma(丙午) occurs every 60 years– women born then are considered fiery enough to destroy men, thus rendering them unlucky in love and marriage. If you think you are married to one, or are one yourself, you or your spouse would have had to be born in 1906 or 1966.The next hinoe uma year is 2026.
11. Hide your belly from the thunder god
If you sleep with your belly button exposed during a thunderous night, you may wake up the next day and realize that that your belly button had been taken by the thunder god—or so the folklore goes.
12. Writing someone's name in red ink
You should never write a person's name in red ink. This is due to names on graves being red. This one is actually important for business men in Japan.
13. Crow's eyes
If you catch a crow's eyes, something bad will happen.
14. Black cat
If a black cat crosses your path, something bad will happen. This is actually imported from Western culture.
15. Floating green tea stalk in the cup
If green tea’s stalk floats vertically in a cup, it brings a good luck. This was a clever word-of-mouth sales tactic created by tea makers back in the days. Leafy green teas were cheaper kind, and the one that contained stalks were more expensive kind. Clearly, the superstition was in order to boost the sales of the more expensive kind, and it worked like a charm.
16. Lying down after meal
If you rest just after eating, you will become a cow/pig/elephant. This actually means not to be lazy.
17. Playing with fire
If you play with fire, you will wet your bed. It makes children become aware of the danger of fire.
18. First dream of a new year
The first dream of a new year will come true.
19. Stepping on the cloth border of a tatami mat
This brings bad luck.
20. Throwing salt
If you go to a funeral, you should throw salt over yourself before entering your home. This is believed to be cleansing.
21. Maneki Neko(lucky cat)
Use of the Maneki Neko or "lucky cat." Many businesses such as shops or restaurants have figures of such beckoning cats. These are considered to be lucky and bring in money and fortune.
22. Swimming during the Obon season (August)
When you swim during the Obon season, the returning dead will take you away with them.
23. Sneezing
If you sneeze once, you're being spoken of well. If you sneeze twice, the opposite is true. Three times and someone loves you, and four times, you have a cold.Ans if you hiccup 100 times consecutively, you will die.
24. Wearing new shoes
If you wear new shoes on tatami (traditional Japanese flooring) and go outside, your career will not be successful. And also, you have to wear new shoes in the morning.
25. Wishing on a shooting star
If you wish on a shooting star three times, your wish comes true.
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