Superstitions and Taboos in IBARAKI and JAPAN

from the 11/01 paper Ibaraki Report

There are superstitions and taboos in all cultures, but, as each generation becomes more skeptical, these beliefs begin to disappear. There are things, people, actions, places, words or times to avoid, lest you meet with misfortune, as well as countering actions to make sure you don't meet with bad luck. Be amazed!

For The Kids

• When kids lose their top baby teeth, they should bury them in the dirt under their house so the new teeth grow down straight. They can throw their bottom baby teeth up onto the roof of their house so the new teeth go up straight.
• If you dab spit onto both ears before going swimming, water won't go deep into your ears when you dive in.
• If you sleep soon after having meal, you will turn into a cow, as cows sleep after eating.
• If lightning strikes nearby and you have your belly button bared, the God of Lightning will make it disappear and you will be belly button less/or you will have stomachaches (as we know that the temperature goes down after a storm, you might get sick because of that).
• If you pee on a worm, your willy will swell up.

The Body

• If you sneeze twice, someone somewhere is talking about you.
• Don't feed a bride with eggplant (aubergine) harvested in autumn as it will cool her body temperature and make it difficult for her to conceive children.
• It is said to be lucky if bird droppings fall on you or if you tread on animal dung, as the word for luck "Un" (運) is pronounced the same as pooh.

What Not To Do At Night

• Don't whistle at night or one of your parents will die, or a burglar or monster or snake will pay you a visit. There was a time in Japan when some people resorted to human trafficking at night and whistling was a way to call peddlers in the darkness. Burglars were said to be working while whistling. And snakes are usually attracted, if not charmed, by someone whistling.
• Don't sleep with your head towards the North, as it is bad luck. There is a custom to place the head of a deceased person at a wake in that direction.
• Nails cutting at night (夜爪 or Yozume) is not recommended as it can also be understoof as "quick death" (夜詰め)
• You should not say the word "Shio" (塩) or salt near nightfall, as the word sounds like "Shi" (死) or die. Some people use the phrase "Nami no hana" (波の花) meaning the crest of a wave, instead.

Actions And Words

• When taking a photo with 3 people, the person that stands in the middle becomes unlucky and may die at an early age.
• Fishermen say the word "Etekou" (得公) instead of "Saru" (猿) or monkey, as the word "Saru" can also mean "to leave" (去る) and not come back, and that is what they most worry about whe going out on their fishing boats.
• It is taboo at weddings to say the words "Kaeru" (帰る) or "Modoru" (戻る) meaning "go home" and "return", as the bride will be jinxed to leave her husband's house and return to her parents.

Food Glorious Food

• Eating fruit or vegetables from the first crop or seafood from the first catch of the season will guarantee you a long life.
• You will avoid meeting with an accident if you eat an "Umeboshi" (梅干 or pickled plum) every morning.
• You mustn't pass food between chopsticks as this is the way bones of cremated bodies are passed in a ritual. If you do, this will bring you bad luck.

Money

• A yellow colored purse or wallet will fill up with money and stay that way.
• Wearing a snakeskin belt will make you wealthy.

Weather

• You can guess the weather of the next day by throwing one of your shoes. If the shoe falls sole down it will be a fine day, if it falls on its side it will be cloudy, if it falls up-side-down it will rain.

Some of these may sound weird but remember that some western superstitions are just as unusual. Some people swear by these rules while others shrug them off. Maybe the best rule is to believe the good and ignore the bad!