Japan’s rich spiritual heritage blends Shinto reverence for nature, Buddhist ideas of karma,
and centuries of folklore. These meishin (迷信) — traditional superstitions — still echo in
modern life. From lucky cats to forbidden numbers, they reveal the unseen order guiding everyday Japan.
Daily Life Superstitions
Cutting Nails at Night
Cutting your nails after dark shortens your life — “tsume” (nail) sounds like “end.”
Whistling at Night
Whistling after dark invites snakes or spirits — parents still warn children about it.
Sweeping After Sunset
Sweeping floors after sunset drives away good fortune from the home.
Standing Tea Stem
If the tea stem floats upright, it brings great luck — “chabashira.”
Passing Food with Chopsticks
Passing food from chopstick to chopstick resembles funeral rituals — a strict taboo.
Chopsticks in Rice
Leaving chopsticks upright in rice imitates funeral offerings and invites misfortune.
Breaking a Mirror
Breaking mirrors angers household spirits — believed to bring seven years of bad luck.
Shoes Pointing Inward
Leaving shoes pointing inward invites unwanted spirits inside the house.
Itchy Nose
An itchy nose means someone is gossiping about you — or you’ll soon meet a guest.
Leaving Lights On
Leaving lights on overnight attracts wandering spirits, especially during Obon.
Death and Spirits
Hiding Thumbs from a Hearse
Hide your thumbs when a hearse passes to protect your parents’ souls from death.
Sleeping North–South
Sleeping with your head to the north imitates funeral practice — bringing bad luck.
Writing Names in Red
Writing a living person’s name in red ink curses them — red is used for the dead.
Crows as Omens
Crows symbolize divine messengers, but three caws foretell death nearby.
Candle Flickering
A flickering candle flame signals that a spirit is present in the room.
Sudden Chill
A sudden chill down your spine means a ghost just passed through you.
Blowing Out Candles
Blowing out candles insults the fire god — pinch them out instead.
Eye Twitching
Right eye twitching means good fortune; left eye means tears or bad luck.
Ghostly Mist
A drifting mist at night is believed to be a wandering soul unable to rest.
White Butterfly
A white butterfly entering the home may be a loved one’s spirit visiting.
Numbers and Luck
Number Four (Shi)
The number four sounds like “death” — skipped in hospital rooms and gifts.
Number Nine (Ku)
The number nine sounds like “pain” — avoided in weddings and hospitals.
Lucky Seven
Seven is lucky — many festivals and rituals use seven steps or offerings.
Number Eight
Eight (*hachi*) is lucky because its shape widens — symbolizing growth and prosperity.
Four-Leaf Clover
Finding a four-leaf clover promises luck and love — a Western belief adopted in Japan.
Red Envelope Gifts
Money given in red envelopes during New Year brings luck and wards off evil.
Temple Bells
Ringing the temple bell 108 times on New Year’s Eve purifies 108 earthly desires.
Five-Yen Coin (Goen)
A 5-yen coin symbolizes good relationships — the word “goen” means both “coin” and “destiny.”
First Sunrise
Watching the year’s first sunrise brings blessings from the gods for the year ahead.
Sake Offerings
Offering sake to household gods ensures family harmony and fortune.
Money Facing Inward
Keep banknotes facing inward in your wallet — it makes wealth “stay” with you.
Sakura Petal on You
If a cherry blossom petal lands on you, you’ll soon receive good news.
Omikuji Fortune Papers
Tying a bad fortune paper to a tree branch leaves bad luck behind.
Daruma Doll
Paint one eye of the Daruma when making a wish; fill the second when it comes true.
Maneki Neko (Lucky Cat)
A raised right paw brings wealth; a left paw brings customers — common in shops.
Red String of Fate
Two people connected by an invisible red thread are destined lovers — an ancient myth still believed.
Full Moon Wishes
Making a wish under a full moon ensures it reaches the gods of luck.
Pigeon Droppings
If a pigeon poops on you, it’s an odd but auspicious sign of luck.
Lighting Incense
Lighting incense with one stick welcomes ancestors; with two invites spirits — use odd numbers.
First Shrine Visit (Hatsumode)
Visiting a shrine during the first days of the year ensures good luck and renewal.
Nature and Animals
Morning Spider
A spider in the morning brings good luck; at night brings misfortune.
Butterfly Indoors
A butterfly entering your home means you’ll soon receive a visitor.
Frogs Bring Safe Travel
Carrying a frog charm ensures you’ll return home safely — “kaeru” means both “frog” and “return.”
Sparrow at Window
A sparrow tapping the window foretells news from afar.
White Snake
Seeing a white snake brings wealth — it’s a messenger of the deity Benzaiten.
Turtle Longevity
Turtles symbolize long life and wisdom; harming them invites misfortune.
Dog Howling
A dog howling continuously means death is near — a warning spirit is passing.
Black Cat Crossing
In Japan, a black cat crossing your path can be lucky, not cursed — it wards off evil.
Fish Jumping
Fish leaping upstream are good omens — they bring messages of perseverance and success.
Falling Cherry Blossoms
Cherry petals falling mark impermanence — a poetic reminder of life’s fleeting beauty.
Objects and Omens
Umbrella Indoors
Opening an umbrella indoors brings bad luck and invites rain on your next outing.
Dropping Soap
Dropping soap in the bath means a guest will arrive soon.
Photographing in Threes
In a photo of three people, the middle one is said to die first — avoid odd-numbered groups.
Empty Rocking Chair
A rocking chair moving on its own invites spirits — keep it still at night.
Dropping a Ring
Dropping a wedding ring before a ceremony is bad luck unless it lands face up.
Sewing at Night
Sewing after sunset invites bad spirits — needles belong to the daylight.
Spilling Water
Spilling water before leaving home ensures safe travel — often done by sumo wrestlers.
Burning Incense
Using an even number of incense sticks is unlucky — always burn an odd number.
Prayer Beads Breaking
When Buddhist beads snap, it means a karmic debt has been repaid — not bad luck.
Falling Book
A book falling by itself is a sign that you’ve ignored important knowledge.
Covering Mirrors at Night
Cover mirrors at night to prevent spirits from entering through reflections.
Static on TV
Fuzzy static late at night is thought to be caused by wandering ghosts.
Singing in the Bath
Singing too loudly in the bath invites mischievous spirits — keep it soft.
Salt Purification
Sprinkling salt before entering the home cleanses negative energy — done after funerals.
Rice Ball Cracking
If an onigiri cracks while shaping, it means a loved one is missing you.
Hina Dolls
Display dolls for Girls’ Day, but store them immediately after — or your daughter’s marriage will be delayed.
Wind Chimes
Hearing a wind chime ring means a spirit is passing by — used to keep them friendly.
Paper Lantern Torn
A torn lantern during a festival means an ancestor’s spirit is nearby.
Broken Camera
A camera breaking unexpectedly means it captured a ghost’s image.
Wearing Clothes Inside Out
If you wear clothes inside out by mistake, it means good luck will come that day.
Festivals and Omens
Fireworks in Summer
Fireworks please ancestral spirits — ending the Obon season properly brings peace.
Tanabata Wishes
Writing wishes on colored papers during Tanabata helps them reach the stars Vega and Altair.
Kadomatsu Decorations
Placing bamboo and pine outside homes during New Year invites deities inside.
Dragon Clouds
Clouds shaped like dragons bring rain and blessings from heaven.
Seeing a Rainbow
Rainbows symbolize a bridge between gods and humans — make a wish when you see one.
Lunar Eclipse
During a lunar eclipse, cover mirrors and water bowls — spirits are restless that night.
Teru Teru Bozu
Hanging a white paper doll outside the window brings sunshine the next day.
Bone Day (Obon)
During Obon, spirits return home; placing food and lanterns guides them back peacefully.
Wind from the West
A strong wind from the west signals the coming of good luck — the “kami no kaze.”
Morning Sunlight
Standing under the morning sun purifies the body and awakens positive energy.
Dreams and Omens
First Dream of the Year
Dreaming of Mount Fuji, a hawk, or an eggplant on New Year’s night brings success and happiness.
Dreaming of Snakes
Dreams of snakes mean incoming wealth — especially golden ones.
Dreaming of Fish
Fish dreams symbolize pregnancy or creative success.
Dreaming of Butterflies
Butterflies in dreams indicate transformation and the visit of ancestral spirits.
Dreaming of Mirrors
Seeing your reflection in a dream suggests clarity and truth — or self-obsession if broken.
Dreaming of Rain
Rain symbolizes emotional renewal and forgiveness — a cleansing omen.
Dreaming of Fire
Fire in dreams brings wealth and passion — unless uncontrolled, which signals conflict.
Dreaming of Birds
Birds symbolize freedom — a flock flying east means opportunities are coming.
Dreaming of White Birds
A white bird dream means divine protection and purity of heart.
Dreaming of the Moon
A full moon dream indicates enlightenment and spiritual favor.
Modern Superstitions
Phone Battery at 1%
If your phone dies exactly at midnight, it’s said a ghost tried to contact you.
White Cars
Driving a white car attracts blessings and safe journeys — purity on wheels.
Music Looping
If a song repeats unintentionally, someone is thinking of you fondly.
Screen Flicker
A computer screen flickering alone at night means a spirit is near.
Door Slam
A door slamming without wind signals unseen visitors — acknowledge them respectfully.
Website Glitch
If a page freezes while reading ghost stories, the spirits dislike being spoken about.
Phone Rings Once
A single ring late at night means the dead are calling — never answer.
Home Renovations
Renovating during Obon offends spirits — avoid construction in that season.
Friday the 13th (Adopted Belief)
Though Western, many Japanese now consider Friday the 13th unlucky as well.
Old Amulet Replacement
Shrine charms lose power yearly; return and replace them to refresh divine protection.
Official & Scholarly Sources on Japanese Culture & Beliefs
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Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan
— The official Japanese government agency for cultural policy, heritage, arts, and intangible culture. -
Wikipedia: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-chō)
— An overview of its role, history, and responsibilities in preserving Japan’s cultural assets.{index=1} -
Japanese Superstitions – Wikipedia
— Summary of many Japanese superstitions (e.g. number 4, mirrors, chanting) and their cultural roots. -
“20 Unique Japanese Superstitions Explained” — Coto Academy
— Good breakdown of many daily taboos (e.g. chopsticks in rice, hiding thumbs, unlucky numbers). -
“Superstitions in Japan: Cultural Beliefs & Origins” — My Nihongo Sensei
— Explains cultural and linguistic background of Japanese superstitions. -
“Omikuji & Japanese Superstitions” — JapanOmikuji
— Focused on shrine fortune papers and how they relate to broader superstitions in Japan. -
“10 Common Japanese Superstitions” — Coto Japanese Club
— Typical everyday beliefs explained (e.g. not cutting nails at night, whistling, chopstick taboos).