Hatsuyume: Everything You Need to Know About Japan’s “First Dream” Tradition

What is Hastuyume?

Simply put, hatsuyume is the first dream of the new year, believed to occur after December 31st and on January 1st, which can be a message that one will have luck within the upcoming year. This tradition has been around since the early Edo period and is still recognised today, about 400 years later. Through certain symbols appearing in one’s first dream of the new year, people can be foretold of their possible luck. These symbols which are said to determine whether you are destined for good fortune in the ensuing year are typically said to be imagery of Mount Fuji, a hawk, and/or an eggplant. Each one must be seen in that order, hence the common saying of 一富士、ニ鷹、三茄子, first Mt. Fuji, second the hawk, and third the eggplant.

These symbols are the three most popular objects said to bring good fortune that are seen in the first dream of the year. While now they may seem random, there are plenty of good reasons for why these three symbols are so important when it comes to this tradition.

Why Mt. Fuji, a Hawk, and Eggplants?

The reason why these three objects are said to be tied to good luck in dreams comes from the language itself and how these words can sound similar to other words that many may wish for. For example, Mount Fuji comes from 無事, buji, for safety. The hawk comes from the Japanese word for hawk taka, which sounds like the word for high in Japanese, 高, meaning that one will make high advancements in life. Lastly, the eggplants, which may stand out as the most curiosity-striking symbol, come from the similar sounding verb “to achieve”, 成す, as they both sound like “nasu”, so that many may achieve great things in the year.

Practices Done for Hatsuyume

As almost everyone wishes for good luck and the chance to see any of these foretelling dreams on the first day of the new year, there are some preparations for this dream to appear that night, and to ward off any bad dreams that may come instead.

First, many will buy or already have a piece of paper called Hatsuyume Makurafuda, basically, a First Dream Pillow Talisman. This is a charm put under one’s pillow with the shichifukujin depicted on it, the seven gods of fortune, such as Ebisu, Daikokuten, and more, all on a huge treasure ship. By having this placed under your pillow and sleeping on it, tradition says this will give you a good dream for the new year.

However, if one doesn’t see any of the auspicious symbols, and instead has a rather bad/unlucky dream, there are measures to counter this. First, many may just simply brush it off as a sakayume, a dream that simply doesn’t make sense if applied to reality, and see nothing bad or unlucky from it. Those who are more superstitious, on the other hand, and feel that their bad dream may have meanings of terrible misfortune, can avoid this by chanting “バクにあげます” (translating to “I give it to the tapir”) to the tapir three times, an animal believed to have eaten bad dreams, inviting it to come and eat your bad dream. This practice can be done before or after the dream as either preparation or avoidance. Once this is done, some put salt on the paper of the gods of fortune (only if the dream was bad) and then dispose of it.

Examples of Good and Bad Dreams

Even though the previously stated fuji, hawk, and eggplants are the most popular symbols that represent a dream that shows you will have good luck, there are many interpretations of what makes a good dream so that many will not feel disheartened when they wake up with no recollection of either the three, but also signs of bad dreams to keep an eye out for.

Good Dreams:

• Seeing the Seven Gods of Fortune, and/or the ship they are commonly depicted on
• Seeing a snake
• Dreaming of going through a Torii gate
• Dreaming of the morning
• Dreams of fire

Bad Dreams:

• One’s teeth falling/coming out
• Being chased by something
• Laughing

Hatsuyume remains an important part of tradition across Japanese households and individuals to this day still believing in the meaning behind the three symbols many hope to see in their first slumber of the year. After a whole year of hard work, studying, and/or challenges, many wish for the new year to be a bit easier than the last, and consider this first dream of the new year to be a foretelling of how it will go based on how fortunate they may be. Whether it’s going the whole way by purchasing paper charms to place under pillows to bring luck to your sleep, praying to the tapir, or just simply going to bed and hoping to see Fuji, a hawk or eggplants at all, this tradition is still respected and practised in many forms.

While remembering the things you see or experience in a dream can be quite difficult, there are many interpretations of good and bad dreams when it comes to this tradition. So don’t feel left out, as there are plenty of ways to get involved with a multitude of fun variations that can come from dream interpretation. Curious if you will be met with good luck this new year. Try to remember your dream, or perhaps engage in the measures to protect and/or bring lucky dreams during your sleep! Sweet dreams, and good luck!

Feature photo credit: A K O

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