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1. There are many things that could be considered "unlucky" in your country. Name one. Do you know the origin of this superstition? If yes, please explain. If no, why do you think this thing is considered unlucky?
2. What do you keep in your house, car or bag, or do on a regular basis, that you believe brings you good fortune (or wards off misfortune)? If it is an object, tell us about where it is from. If it is an act, tell us about how and when you developed or learned this habit?
3. Tell us about a friend, family member or celebrity who has extreme, or funny, superstitious beliefs.
4. Would you kill a spider at night? Buy a house or apartment with the number "4" in the address? Pass food between chopsticks? Skip hatsumode because it is cold? Show your thumbs when a hearse passes? Get married on a Butsumetsu day? Step on the threshold to a temple or shrine?
5. Do you consider yourself a superstitious person? Why?
6. Are Japanese people more superstitious than people from other countries? Why do you think that?

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Question 1

Many people consider the number 13 to be unlucky. I am not completely sure where this comes from but I heard that it might have begun in Scandinavia.

Question 2

I have a lucky coin that I keep at home. But when I seriously think about it, there is nothing special about it and I just like to believe that it is lucky.

Question 3

In Mexico when the clock strikes 12 on New Year's Eve, you should eat 12 grapes in rapid succession. This is to ensure the coming year will be lucky.

Question 4

I am ok to buy a house with the number 4 in the address, get married on Butsumetsu, and I have probably/accidentally stepped on the threshold of a temple or shrine. However, I won't pass food between chopsticks and not go to Hatusmode (my wife forces me to go).

Question 5

No, I am not a superstitious person although I am sure there are parts of my culture that started out as superstitions but then the meaning became lost and it became something for everyone to do.

Question 6

I do not think this current generation in Japan is superstitious but I think the older generations are much more so. The most superstitious places that I have visited are Mexico and Romania.

Tough Vocabulary

- English -	- Japanese -
rapid	迅速
succession	継承
ensure	確保する