Japanese Superstitions

As the New Year begins, people around the world, including in the Philippines, are often cautious about various sayings and superstitions. It's a time when beliefs about luck, fortune, and omens take center stage. Many see this as an opportunity to attract good fortune and avoid bad luck for the year ahead.

In the Philippines, practices like jumping at midnight to grow taller, preparing 12 round fruits for prosperity, and wearing polka-dotted clothes to attract wealth are just a few examples. Similarly, Japan has its own superstitions that are deeply rooted in its culture and traditions, blending folklore, religion, and ancient customs. These beliefs continue to be observed by many, particularly during significant times of the year.

Here are some of the most common Japanese superstitions:

• Breaking a comb or the strap of a wooden sandal (geta): This is considered an omen of bad luck. If you've ever watched Japanese period dramas (Jidaigeki) set during the Edo period, you might have seen such incidents portrayed as harbingers of misfortune.

• Whistling or playing a flute at night: This is said to attract snakes. In this context, the "snakes" symbolize thieves. During the Edo period, thieves reportedly used whistling as a signal.

• Hiding your thumb when a hearse passes: When a funeral car drives by, you should hide your thumb in a fist. The Japanese word for the thumb, oyayubi, means "parent-finger," and hiding it is thought to protect your parents from death.

• Sleeping with your head pointed north: This is believed to shorten your lifespan. This superstition stems from funerary practices, where the deceased are laid with their heads facing north.

• Sticking chopsticks upright in a rice bowl: This is strictly avoided because it resembles a funeral ritual where chopsticks are placed upright in rice offered to the deceased.

• Passing food from chopstick to chopstick: This practice is also taboo, as it mimics a ritual where bones from cremated remains are transferred during a funeral ceremony.

• Cutting fingernails or toenails at night: Doing this is said to bring bad luck and prevent you from seeing your parents before they pass away. The superstition likely originated from the practical concern of injuring yourself in low light.

• Lying down immediately after a meal: According to this belief, you risk turning into a cow if you rest after eating. While meant as a playful warning, it encourages avoiding laziness. Interestingly, in the Philippines, this is associated with becoming a pig instead!

• Beckoning cats/Lucky cats (Maneki Neko): These cat figurines, commonly displayed in shops, are believed to bring good luck and prosperity.

Superstitions may seem irrational or supernatural, often rooted in elders' experiences and cultural practices that science cannot easily explain. However, they offer an important glimpse into a nation’s history, values, and collective mindset. Whether these beliefs arose out of practical warnings, religious traditions, or sheer imagination, they remain a fascinating part of daily life for many.

For some, superstitions are comforting rituals—a way to feel a sense of control in an unpredictable world. For others, they are an opportunity to reflect on cultural heritage and shared identity. Regardless of their origin, there is no harm in observing them. After all, even a small act like hiding your thumb or placing chopsticks correctly might bring peace of mind or brighten your day with the hope of good fortune. Who knows? These little gestures might just nudge fate in your favor and transform potential misfortunes into opportunities.