How lucky are you?

The Japanese, like any other culture, strongly believe in luck. The luck factor is very much present in everyday activities. An example of an American superstition regarding luck would be not walking under a ladder. Americans and many other cultures too, in fact, believe that walking under a ladder would bring bad luck. For the Japanese, salt is a lucky item. This is why they believe that one should throw salt where a beggar has just been.

The Japanese are also superstitious about who they meet the first in a day. If they meet a woman, they believe that they will have a good day ahead. However, meeting a Buddhist monk first thing in the morning is bad news.

There is a fish in Japan known as “tai”, also known as “red sea bream”. This is part of the Japanese word “medetai”, which also means good luck, and coincidentally, it is red as well. Red is a lucky color for Japan. Therefore, this fish is regarded as a lucky fish in Japan.

The Japanese are also strongly against using a needle and thread just before leaving the house, as it is regarded as highly bad luck. Wearing a pair of new shoes also has certain timing. Wearing new shoes for the first time in the morning is good luck, but wearing them for the first time in the afternoon or evening is believed to be bad luck.