Japanese Superstitions – Bad luck and good luck in Japan

Japan is a country full of superstitions, there are thousands, and the Japanese take them very seriously. In this article, we will see some Japanese superstitions, some even bizarre and nonsensical to us. Japanese beliefs and superstitions are deeply rooted in the history and culture of Japan.

There is a dose of numbers, objects, words, and actions that can bring good or bad luck. All of this is influenced by Buddhism and Shintoism in Japan, which believe in thousands of gods and supernatural creatures.

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Unlucky Numbers in Japan

We cannot talk about Japanese superstitions without mentioning the numbers that the Japanese fear so much. Even elevators avoid placing the unlucky number in Japan. Let’s see some superstitions involving numbers below:

• Four – 4 – 四 – Its pronunciation SHI can sound like the word death (死) which is also shi;
• Nine – 9 – 九 – The pronunciation KU can sound like suffering, pain (苦) and also something dark (black – kuro);
• 43 – The pronunciation shisan is similar to the birth of the dead shizan (死産);
• Other suggestive numbers are 42 which indicates even death (死に – shini). 49 which resembles running over (敷く – shiku);
• Days 1 and 15 of the lunar calendar, one should not have sexual relations;
• It is said that in photos of 3 people, the one in the middle dies first;
• If you hiccup 100 times in a row, you will die;
• Never eat eel with pickled “ume” (or “tempura” with watermelon);

Japanese Superstitions of Bad Luck

• Poking food with chopsticks and leaving them standing brings bad luck. Because they do this with the dead;
• Sleeping with your head to the north attracts death, because the dead are buried with their heads to the north;
• Cutting your nails at night is said to also attract death;
• Whistling and playing flutes at night attracts snakes and ghosts;
• Encountering crows and black cats is a sign of bad omen;
• Never pass food from your chopsticks to another person’s plate and do not tap your chopsticks on the plate. This is also done at funerals;
• Never write your name in red ink, it suggests that your life will be cut short;
• Do not leave rice leftover on the plate, you may go blind;
• If you lie down after eating, you will turn into a cow;
• Seeing a spider in the morning is good luck, and at night is bad luck;
• If you hear thunder, you must hide your belly button, otherwise the god will eat your belly button;
• If a hearse passes nearby, hide your thumb, otherwise something bad may happen to your parents;
• You should not take photos at graves, as this will attract bad luck, and you will be disturbing the rest of the dead;
• If the geta (Japanese wooden footwear) breaks in half, it is a sign of bad luck;
• Mirrors steal the soul, a mirror should not be placed facing the bed;
• It brings bad luck to respond to someone who talks while sleeping.
• Wearing new shoes at night brings bad luck;
• Do not step on the edges of the tatami, it brings bad luck. Stretch your foot more and avoid this spot!
• If a beggar comes to your door, you should salt the entrance of your door, otherwise, you will have bad luck such as financial misfortunes in your home;

Beneficial Superstitions of Japan

• Eating seaweed increases hair growth;
• Drinking milk enlarges the chest;
• Those who listen to classical music as children become geniuses;
• A paper or wood hidden in clothing brings good luck if kept close to the body at all times;
• A good omen is a bird defecating on your head;
• Blood type identifies a person’s qualities;
• If the stems or leaves of tea float vertically, you will have good luck, but this is something difficult to happen
• If you find a snake skin while walking in the countryside, keep it in your wallet. It brings good luck and fortune;
• The number 7 is a sacred lucky number for the Japanese, just like in many other cultures;
• If you eat mochi (rice cake) or osechi ryori (special New Year dish) on New Year’s, you will have longevity;
• Upon entering a funeral, throw salt over your shoulder, as this wards off death and spirits away from you;