This is a photo of a Shrine near my place, "Susanoo-shrine" which is a "ujigami-shrine" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ujigami) in my town.
Compared to Christianity, Muslim or other religions which belive in only One God, there are " Yaorozu no Kami " in Japan which means 8 million Gods. Of couse, the 8 million is NOT the exact number of the Gods in Japan, but it is a metaphor of the diversity of the Japanese Gods.
When the New year comes, we Japananese visit Shrines to show our gratitudes, and to ask for further supports by the Gods. We don't declare much that we belong to religions such as Shinto, or Buddism, but our society, cultual values, behaviors.... are very much infulenced by Shintoism (also Buddism ). That's why we visit them.
Anyway, we always want a good year, but it is uncertain yet. But there is a way to tell if the year is gonna be good, or bad. The God tells us a tip through "Omikuji"(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omikuji). And I tried one there.
Well, well well....
This year is gonna be...........
"DAIKICHI"(Great blessing)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I haven't had it for years and years, and finally!!!!
Of couse, if I can make the year good or bad, it depends on my efforts, but it is surely a good sign.
