Interesting Japanese Superstitions

What kind of superstitions exist in your country?

Recently, I was whistling in my room during the day, and my Lithuanian partner told me, “Whistling indoors can summon devils or attract ghosts.”

Being Japanese, I found this interesting because Japan also has superstitions about whistling, but they are a bit different in content. For example, it is believed that whistling at night attracts snakes, thieves, ghosts, or even kidnappers, depending on the region (My hometown, “Saitama” – thieves).

This shows how different superstitious beliefs can be based on the local background and religion.

Particularly, Japan is a country rich in history, culture, and traditions that have been passed down through generations. Moreover, as a large island, it has many fascinating and unique beliefs.

In this blog post, I want to explore some of these interesting superstitions that are still widely held in Japan today.

Good Luck Superstitions

Red Pants (underwear)

Firstly, let’s talk about Red Pants.

In Japan, it is said that wearing red underwear can bring good luck in terms of health and longevity. This superstition is based on the idea that red represents the power of the sun, blood, and a protective charm.

Additionally, there is a belief that wearing red undergarments can help people avoid needing assistance with personal care as they age. Therefore, some older people wear them to avoid becoming a burden to their families.

Because of this, red underwear is especially popular among the elderly. In Sugamo, Tokyo, known as the “Harajuku for the Older Generation,” you’ll find the original “Sugamo Maruji” shop, famous for selling these red Pants. Sugamo also has a popular Jizo-dori shopping street and several temples bustling with visitors to pray.

For example, washing the statue of Jizo with water and wiping it clean is said to solve the health problem of the corresponding body part.

So, why not join one of our guided tours in Sugamo to pray for your health and buy a pair of these bright red trousers?

Maneki Neko (beckoning cat)

In Japan, there are many superstitions involving cats, including Maneki Neko. It is because cats have been cherished for bringing prosperity and good luck to businesses for centuries. You might even see a Maneki Neko in the local Asian restaurants in your own country.

Interestingly, the meaning of Maneki Neko varies by color. For instance, a calico Maneki Neko is for good fortune, a white one is for happiness, and a black one is to ward off evil spirits. Furthermore, there are also gold Maneki Neko for attracting wealth and pink ones for improving love and marriage luck. So, when you finally visit Japan, be sure to buy one!

Fuku Mimi (lucky Ears)

Fuku Mimi refers to ears with large, thick earlobes, similar to those of the Seven Lucky Gods, such as Daikokuten, Ebisu, and Hotei.

Thus, these big earlobes are believed to bring good fortune and wealth, making sense of the name 福(Fuku: lucky) and 耳 (Mimi: ears). Among these, the type with the earlobes turned upwards is considered the luckiest.

Shed Snakeskin

The shed skin of snakes has, for a long time, been valued as a lucky charm in Japan and there are three main reasons for this belief.

First, among the Seven Lucky Gods, Benzaiten is the goddess of fortune and wealth, and her messenger is the snake. So, keeping a shed skin from this sacred creature is believed to bring monetary blessings. More interestingly, the shed skin from a white snake is considered the incarnation of Benzaiten herself and is especially important.

Second, the characteristics of snakes themselves are key. Snakes grow by shedding their skin repeatedly, similar to how businesses grow by overcoming challenges. Seeing this similarity has led to the belief that a snake shedding its skin is overall an auspicious process.

Third, in the past, rice was a crucial food for the Japanese, but it was often eaten by rats. However, snakes, which prey on rats, were considered protectors of the rice. Thus, snakes were seen as guardians of wealth and property.

For these reasons, the shed skin of a snake is viewed as a lucky charm that enhances financial fortune.

Tea Stalk

It is said to be good luck if the tea stalk stands up in your tea. The essential point lies in the kanji characters 茶 (Cha: tea) and 柱 (Hashira: pillar or stalk).

The word Hashira implies something or someone that supports the whole thing. A strong pillar symbolizes the prosperity of a household, so in Japan, a tea stalk standing up is seen as a sign of good fortune.

Bad Luck Superstitions

Nail Cutting

In Japan, there is a superstition that you should not cut your nails at night. I remember my mother often warning me, “If you cut your nails at night, you won’t be able to meet me when I pass away.”

What’s interesting about this belief is that during the Edo period, when 80% of the population were farmers, people working in the fields would get infections or their fingers would rot due to deep nail cuts. In those times without electricity, people often cut their nails in the dark with large scissors, leading to the belief that cutting nails at night causes bad luck (deep nail cuts).

Because of this superstition, which was created to avoid such situations, many people still faithfully follow it today.

River Stones

Stones found in rivers or seas are considered bad objects and should not be taken home. For instance, My brother once brought one home and got scolded by my mother.

This was because it is a widely held belief that rocks might absorb various energies, and since many lives are lost in rivers and seas, with bodies of water connected everywhere, the bad energy from those lost souls would gather in the stones.

Moreover, some stones may have been old tombstones or shrine stones washed away by the rain or floods. Therefore, it’s important to recognize that river stones may carry some negative essence of the deceased or that of the gods themselves.

If You Sleep Immediately After Eating, you become a Cow

Cows have a habit of lying down and ruminating after eating, and it’s considered bad manners for Japanese to lie down after eating in general. So, to stop people from lying down immediately after eating, this superstition was created by warning against becoming like a cow.

Additionally, sleeping right after a meal can lead to indigestion, which is why parents often caution their children about this, saying to protect their health.

Nostalgic Superstitions from My School Days

Writing “人” (Person) on Your Palm And Swallowing It

In Japanese schools, there aren’t many opportunities for students to speak publicly or give presentations. Due to this, when we were younger and feeling nervous in front of others, we used to perform this ritual.

The idea behind writing “person” three times on your palm and then swallowing it is to swallow others BEFORE they can swallow you by overwhelming or intimidating you.

Additionally, there are pressure points on the palm that help to relieve tension, which is another reason why many of us do this at school.

Erasers

When I was in elementary school, students tended to buy a new eraser and write the name of their crush on it to make sure the love would work out once they used it all up. The reason behind this tradition is unclear, but it was quite popular among us.

Kurokki

Similarly, there was a superstition that if you spotted a car with a black number plate with a yellow number on the vehicle three times, your wish would come true.

While it was challenging to find such cars, spotting one was always a special moment. These were nostalgic beliefs for someone born in 2001 like me.

Superstitions are a combination of religious background, useful advice, and cultural values. In this blog, I introduced some of the most famous beliefs in Japan, from lucky superstitions like wearing Red Pants to bring good fortune and health to those that are associated with bad luck, such as not cutting your nails at night, and even intriguing beliefs with unknown origins like writing your crush’s name on your new eraser. Next time you visit Japan, please pay attention to these unique customs and experience some of this Japanese wisdom on your next trip.

Featured Photo Credit: Samuel Branch

If you’d like to learn more about Japanese culture and tradition, be sure to book our Super Sugamo Local Foodie Adventure with an expert local guide, and find your own pair of lucky red pants!