Japanese Superstitions
Page 3
 The number four is considered inauspicious because it is pronounced the same as the word for death (shi). One should not make presents that consist of four pieces. |
 The number nine is considered unlucky since it is sometimes pronounced the same as the word for suffering (ku). |
 Do not stick your chopsicks into your food, especially not into rice. This is a practice reserved for funerals.
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 NEVER pass food chopsticks to chopsticks. This is only done with the bones of a cremated body at funerals. |
If you play with fire,
you will wet your bed. |
The first dream of a new year
will come true |
Breaking a comb or the cloth strap of a “geta” wooden sandal will bring misfortune. |
Stepping on the cloth border of a tatami mat brings bad luck. |
You'll get bad luck if you talk back to someone talking in their sleep. |
If your nose itches, someone that you know will have a baby. |
 If you sneeze once, you're being spoken of well. If you sneeze twice, the opposite is true. Three times and someone loves you, and four times, you have a cold. |
If your ear itches, you'll hear good news. |
 If you are the middle person in a picture with two others in it, you will soon die or suffer a hard tragedy. |
 If the first person you meet on any given day is a woman, you will have good luck. If it is a Buddhist priest, be prepared for a bad day. |
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