Testing fate…

Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to tick off a bucket list destination – I went on holiday to Tokyo. I knew I wanted to do two things: eat as much ramen as I could possibly stomach and cram in as much culture as I possibly could. I’m happy to confirm that I achieved both.

One of my highlights was when I visited the city’s oldest temple, Sensō-ji (浅草寺), and the neighbouring shrines. If you have ever googled pictures of Japan, chances are you’ll have come across Senso-ji Temple located in Asakusa, it’s very red and very big and very crowded! Upon arrival in Tokyo, I soon realised that the famous Buddhist Temple was just a short walk away from my hotel. As I made my way over, I remember being taken aback by its grandeur. Seeing a temple nestled in amongst a booming metropolis was like nothing I had ever seen before.

Religion in Japan is a mix of Shinto and Buddhism that have been harmoniously blending for hundreds of years. Shinto is Japan’s original religion and carries the philosophy that everything in the universe has a spirit, which can influence their lives. Then there’s Buddhism, which came from Korea and China in the 6th century. It brought new ideas and traditions that were seen as a welcome addition to Shinto.

Whilst exploring Sensō-ji, I was particularly fascinated by the cultural importance of wishes, luck, and karma. In Japan, these concepts reflect how people see life and the universe. A popular tradition that links to this is Omikuji; random fortunes written on strips of paper at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Omikuji has been used for centuries; originally it would decide who should govern the country, who one should marry or who should be [his] successor, but now they contain information on aspects such as love, health and studies. I decided to test my luck…

I paid my voluntary offering and picked up the metal box containing various sticks. I shook the box a few times, (silently wishing for a good fortune!), and, once satisfied, turned the metal container over so that my stick would fall out. The number on said stick matched a drawer where my fortune was waiting – the moment of truth. A good fortune is kept, however if you receive a bad one, you must tie your slip to a tree branch in the temple grounds; leaving the slip at the temple should improve your luck. Fortunately, mine was good… phew!!

Taking part in this small tradition allowed me to me personally reflect on the idea of religion in Japan, which to me, appeared to be very open and flexible, compared to the West. People are more focused on achieving well-being and worldly benefits as opposed to following doctrines or beliefs – omikuji has been used as an instrument to unify communities without complications, making spiritual practices a seamless part of daily life. It’s truly a unique and beautiful aspect of Japanese culture!