An American would probably laugh at the thought of a snake bringing a fortune of unexpected money. An American wouldn't worry about being in the middle of a photograph with two other people in it. An american would probably call anyone who believed in such things superstitious. But then, is that the type of person who would avoid opening an umbrella in the house? Does that person worry when he sees a black cat coming his way? These are things that a Japanese person would laugh at, just as you may have laughed at their superstitions. Below are a few Japanese superstitions that I thought you might like reading about. You know most of the superstitions where you are right now. Now learn about some from the other side of the world ^_^

The Japanese believe in many creatures relating to myths. One of the most famous is "oni", or devil. They occasionally have three eyes and are almost always giant sized. Their colors are red, blue, grey or pink. They have horns, three toes and three fingers are usual features that Oni's have. They have the ability to fly, but hardly ever do. They are dumb, cruel, and malicious. Most all myths relate to a religion, whether it is Buddhism, Shinto, or a different religion.

The Japanese have their own ghosts. Their ghosts are different from ours because all that we really think of as ghosts are clear little white things. Their ghosts each have their own personality and ways to terrorize people. Some general terms for ghosts are "obake" or "bakemono". That literally means transforming thing. "youkai" means bewitching apparition, which includes monsters, goblins, and ghouls. "yuurei" is a dim, hazy, or faint spirit. These are probably the closest types of ghosts to America's vision of them that you will get. They are supposedly dead spirits living on earth for a reason. An example of youkai is "Rokurokubi", a female monster with a long, flexible neck. She looks like a regular woman during the day, but at night, she takes all of their energy away from them, and they die. Women ghosts come back in taxi cabs, and other ghosts come back as cats.

The numbers four, nine, and thirteen are considered unlucky. Four means death, nine means pain, and thirteen is basically just the result of American superstitions. In a hospital, it is very uncommon to see rooms numbered four, nine, fourteen, or 42 because they are all somehow associated with death or pain. In the maternity section of hospital, the room numbered 43 is avoided because it literally means still birth.

Many Japanese superstitions are associated with death. For example, you should never stick your chopsticks straight up and down in your rice bowl because that is how it is done at a death. You should always lay out your futon so it is pointed south. Your pillow should never point north. This is the position of a body of a dead person at a Buddhist funeral. Some superstitions are considered foolish and funny, but those concerning death are taken very seriously.

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, people are saying bad things about you. The third time, someone loves you, and, finally, the fourth time, you have a cold. If your ear itches, you'll hear good news.

You will have bad luck if you break a comb, strap of gata, zori, or wooden shoe. You should always throw salt where a beggar has just been. 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. A good omen is getting a bird dropping on your head. If you are overtaken by a funeral procession on the street, you will have bad luck. Avoid badgers whenever possible, because they are evil and mischievous.

At temples, many charms are sold. In taxis, there are always girl dolls, to keep away the female ghosts. Over the fireplace, there is a potholder charm in the shape of the kanji to keep the fire from spreading. Small charms with kanji on them keep away evil spirits. A material (paper or wood) wrapped in cloth brings you good luck if you keep it near you at all times. When women want a healthy delivery of a baby, they prey and get a paper with five kanji on it. If you tear off and swallow them in the right order, a smooth delivery is guaranteed.

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