Good Bye, Bad Luck!

When you go to shrines or temples in Japan, especially in new year season, you'll find a notice about "The unlucky age of the year". It is called "yakudoshi" in Japanese. It is said that the unlucky age is 33 for woman and 42 for man. (This age differs from from each temple.) Many Japanese in yakudoshi have special service to drive evil spirit away.



To have this service, fill in the form at the reception first. Then go to the special room for prayer to have the service. During the service, monks light a holy fire with chanting the sutra. You may be requested to chant sutra with your palms together, or to bow to the statue of Buddha. After the service, a wooden or paper talisman is provided to you. (Light photo : a paper talisman.)



Don't worry even if you miss the chance of new year service. It is said that the bad luck will be driven away if you go to a temple to expel evil spirits by setsubun day. Hope all of you have a happy year!

New Year Porridge

It is common worldwide to celebrate new year. In Japan, we enjoy eating special meals for new year and drinking sake during new year holiday. Some have parties with their families and friends. Others go out and have nice dishes which we don't eat in our daily life.

Imagine how your stomach would be if you eat too much... It must be crying when you appreciate many ricecakes or much alcohol. So it is customary for Japanese to eat porridge on January 7th.

We call this porridge "nanakusa-gayu", which literally means "porridge with seven kinds of herbs". The seven herbs are, cicely, shepherd's purse, gogyo, chickweed, henbit, suzuna, and radish. This porridge is good for digestion, and it is believed that this protects people from illness though the year. It is very hard to pick all kinds of herbs in these days, but the Japanese can buy the pack of herbs at the supermarket.

Nanakusa-gayu is good for health, but don't eat too much!!