Omamori: Japanese amulets for protection and luck

Omamori (お守り) is an amulet that represents a person's wish for good luck or blessings. It also serves as protection or a talisman, and it can usually be found in temples and shrines throughout Japan. A short prayer on paper or wood sits inside the pouch, and the wish is written on the outside.

The omamori should be kept in a bag, a wallet, a pocket, or on a phone strap. An ofuda (お札) is the related talisman that stays on the house wall or the household altar. Even people in Japan who do not believe in the blessing or power use omamori for the placebo effect, which is why they are everywhere.

Omamori became popular in both Shintoism and Buddhism. Priests believed that placing the power and strength of the gods into small pocket blessings would keep people safe and motivated.

Initially, its main purpose was to ward off bad luck and protect the person carrying it. Later, hundreds of types of these amulets developed. Today, there is a wide selection. The money you leave is an offering, hatsuhoryo (初穂料). On the counter below, a love-chance pouch and an easy-delivery pouch are marked at 500 yen, and a conception pouch at 1,000 yen.

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Differences between omamori in Shintoism and Buddhism

There is little difference between Shinto and Buddhist omamori: both contain a small prayer inside, are usually covered by brocade, traditionally silk, are printed with the name of the place or the wish, and are hung by a delicate thread.

Never, ever open the omamori. Otherwise, the blessing is released, and all the luck and protection you sought is lost. Carry it with you, or tie it to a bag or a backpack.

Shinto priests and shrine maidens will emphasize that each one has an expiration date. Generally, about a year later, or until its purpose is fulfilled. Temples follow the same custom.

Once they expire, return them to the shrine or temple where you received them. Old omamori are burned in a sacred fire with the others, often around the New Year. Bring a shrine charm back to a shrine and a temple charm back to a temple.

Types of Omamori - Japanese Amulets

There are two main types of omamori. The first and most popular are the talismans, which are rectangular. These gain their power from words written on paper or wood. The words can be the name of the shrine, or a section of a sutra, or powerful words. The wood or paper is then sealed inside a cloth bag.

The second type is made in the shape of something connected to the wish. Some temples offer unique omamori. If the counter has nothing for your case, ask a priest to have one made. When enough people ask for the same wish, the shrine or temple may start keeping it on the shelf.

Below we will see a list of the main types of amulets in Japan. There are thousands, as some are quite specific in their functions. The ones on the list below can be easily found.

Generally, the amulets have specific colors according to their function; the names of the amulets we will see next are usually what is written on the amulet in question. They are words that well represent their function.

It is worth noting that there are other amulets beyond this list, some of them quite specific.

Kachimamori - The Success Talisman

Kachimamori (勝守) is potentially one of the most sought after, likely to be found in almost every shrine and temple. 勝守 is read kachimamori, a victory charm issued by a shrine or temple. The pouches here carry an arrow, and one shows a bird in a circle over flames.

Although "success" may seem vague at first glance, the wish is narrow: the user channels their energy into a single goal, and the talisman marks that goal.

Yakuyoke - The Amulet of Evil Prevention

The distinction between this amulet and the kachimamori is the way it helps you with your goal. While the kachimamori aids in your endeavors, the yakuyoke (厄除け) prevents potential evils that may inhibit your success.

Those who feel haunted by a bad event may carry the amulet as a way to stifle any superstitions and bring some relief.

Shoubaihanjou - The Money Talisman

The shoubaihanjou (商売繁盛) means prosperity in business. The yellow pouches are embroidered with those characters. One lies on yen notes, and the other carries a beckoning cat. People tuck one into a wallet or hang it from a bag. In some shrines, there are specific money talismans for investments or savings, business, or personal finances.

In other cases, there are money charms aimed at luck in seeking money, inheritance, or even good deals while shopping. Whether these talismans help your wallet recover its money is another question.

Gakugyoujouju - Education and Study Talisman

The gakugyoujouju (学業成就) are popular among students who carry them in their backpacks during their school career, in order to encourage their studies and improve their acquisition of knowledge.

A different amulet covers one particular test. Beside the study wish, a wooden plaque shows a daruma and the characters 合格祈願 (goukaku kigan), a prayer to pass. This study amulet can be used not only by students but by anyone who wishes to gain knowledge.

Koutsuanzen - Safe Transit Amulet

The koutsuanzen (交通安全) is used by drivers, especially taxi drivers who wish to have a safe trip, and can be seen hanging from the car mirror or stuck on the dashboard. Even people who ride bicycles often tie this omamori to ride peacefully through traffic. Students who wish to obtain their driver's licenses also often use this amulet to succeed in the test.

Kaiun - Luck Amulets

The kaiun (開運) are the most common amulets that bring luck in general without anything specific. They can be easily found, often bought as souvenirs, and carry 開運 or the name of the shrine or temple without a narrower wish. One brocade pouch is embroidered with 開運 over a sun, and small crocheted charms are sold in packets stamped with the same word.

If you do not have a specific goal in mind, or simply want a small reminder of a shrine to remember your visit without any commitment, this may be your best choice.

Shiawase - Happiness Amulet

The omamori written shiawase (幸せ), which literally means happiness, has a nuance of helping the user find ways to improve their life; as the name suggests, bringing happiness in any area of life.

Kenkou - Health Amulet

Kenkou (健康) is the amulet focused on helping with your health. This omamori offers personal protection and prevention related to a person's health. The orange pouches read 健康守 and show turtles on a checkered ground, a picture of long life.

Kanayama Shrine in Kawasaki keeps a separate prayer for sexual health and for an easy birth. Its festival, the Kanamara Matsuri, falls on the first Sunday of April and has been held since 1969. The kami are Kanayama-hiko and Kanayama-hime, gods of metalwork, and visitors also ask them for harmony in a marriage and for protection from sexually transmitted infections. The festival raises money for HIV research.

Enmusubi and Anzan - Love Amulets

Love is a common theme among omamori; love amulets can be divided into several categories, depending on the person's situation. Generally, these amulets have a small message of love and are used to bring people closer together.

Enmusubi (縁結び) is the pouch for a bond between people: romance, marriage, or another tie. The same shelf often includes renai joju (恋愛成就), fulfillment in love. One pouch has a heart and 恋愛成就守, a red one reads えんむすび, and a red and blue pair sits together.

The word enmusubi means bond of love, marriage, or bond of marriage, and also refers to the red thread of destiny. This name is present in any type of amulet related to love and romantic connection between people.

Couples - High school students often acquire these amulets at temples to solidify their relationship.

Married couples - There are large and unique amulets used for a couple to protect their marriage. The red and blue pair is that kind of set.

There are also sets of omamori to protect family members called kanai-anzen (家内安全), safety and peace in the household. They offer small reminders of love between parents and children and continue to strengthen the marriage during family difficulties.

The childbirth amulet is known as "anzan" (安産); these help ensure a quick and safe delivery for a pregnancy already underway. The word anzan literally means easy childbirth. The easy-delivery pouch in the first photo is the one marked at 500 yen. These are just a few of the countless types of omamori that exist.