10 Common Japanese Superstitions

1. In Japan, there are a few years in life called yaku-doshi - "evil years". They occur at different times for men (25, 42, 60) and women (19, 33), although these years are calculated from before birth using an old Chinese method.
2. Each Japanese character or kanji contains a certain number of strokes and these are important when choosing a name for a baby. For the first name, only a certain number of strokes will go well with the number of strokes in the surname. The rules are complicated and a specialst book or expert is usually consulted. The number of strokes in characters is also considered important for compatibility of future partners.
3. On the 3rd of February (start of Spring in the ancient calendar) dried soya beans are thrown out of the house while saying fuku wa uchi, oni wa soto - "good luck is inside, the devil is outside". This brings good luck for the coming year. Incidentally, the Japanese for bean is mame and the word for hard working is mamemameshii, so beans are eaten on this day to become stronger. Usually the number of beans you eat is equal to your age in years.
4. Several times a month there is a day called butsumetsu. This symbolises the day that Buddha died and is an unlucky day to get married or to take part in any celebration.
5. During pregnancy, women wear a maternity belt called a hara-obi. This is first worn five months after conception on a "dog day" which also occur several times a month. The reason for this is that dogs are seen to be very good at giving birth without complications.
6. In Japan, there are certain activities that shouldn't be done in the afternoon or evening. For example, you mustn't cut your fingernails or toenails in the evening. If you do, you won't be with your parents when they pass away. Why? I've no idea!
7. Similary, you mustn't whistle in the evening. If you do, snakes will appear, apparently.
8. When you buy a new pair of shoes, you must wear them for the first time in the morning. Wearing them in the afternoon or evening will bring bad luck.
9. Another cause of bad luck is using a needle & thread before leaving the house. You have been warned!
10. Finally, you should use chopsticks with care. Leaving them standing in a bowl of rice is something done at funerals and so it symbolises death, as does passing food from your chopsticks directly to someone else's.