Omamori (お守り)

Japanese culture is full of myth, taboo, and superstition.  These assumptions and understandings that the Japanese people have of daily occurrences and the consequences of their actions are ideas that have been built into their culture since ancient Japan. All of which have a basis in Japanese religion, and therefore, they are seen by native Japanese as fact and not fiction.

 

A major religious tool used by the Japanese in daily life is that of the Omamori. Omamori can be purchased at almost every Buddhist Temple and Shinto Shrine in Japan and can be seen everywhere. When translated into English, Omamori is understood as having the meaning of amulet or talisman.  These objects serve as having many different functions and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  All of which exist in order to enrich the life of the user/owner in some manner or fashion.

The kanji that makes up Omamori: お[守]り, literally means to protect or to care for. Personal protection was the main purpose of Omamori when they first originated and were simply wooden tablets or paper with prayers or religious texts written on them. As their functionality has evolved from merely warding off bad spirits and providing personal protection into a more contemporary purpose, so have the Omamori themselves. Now, as you can see from the image above, the wood is contained within a small bag or pouch and they generally have the script "Omamori" and the name of the Temple or Shrine where they were purchased. They serve many functions and depending on what religious site you go to, there may be a specialized Omamori that are not offered elsewhere. Here are some examples:

• kōtsū-anzen: traffic safety. Protection for drivers and travelers of all sorts
• yaku-yoke: avoidance of evil
• kaiun: open luck, better fortune
• gakugyō-jōju: education and passing the examination. For students and scholars
• shōbai-hanjō: prosperity in business. Success in business and matters of money
• en-musubi: acquisition of a mate and marriage. Available for singles and couples to ensure love and marriage
• anzan: protection for pregnant women for a healthy pregnancy and easy delivery
• kanai-anzen: safety (well-being) of one's family; peace and prosperity in the household

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omamori

It is not uncommon to see Omamori for "good luck in school" hanging from student's bookbags, Omamori for "finding love" on women's purses, or even a "traffic safety" Omamori in a taxi cab. The users of these Omamori all feel that they will bring them what is known as "genze riyaku" or this worldy, immediate benefits. If the owner/user feels that an Omamori is not functioning, either they themselves are doing something incorrect so they do not deserve the assistance, or they did not put enough faith into the Omamori for the scale of the task they are trying to achieve.

I myself have two "Koutsu Anzen" or traffic safety Omamori. One for my motorcycle, and one for my car. They are both different sizes and cost different amounts when I purchased them. Why is that the case? This is what I mean by the user choosing the Omamori for the occasion. I figured, my motorcycle is smaller so I will need a smaller Omamori for it, and my car is bigger so it will need more protection so I will buy the bigger one. It is this type of thought process that is applied by the Japanese people in regards to Omamori and can go from very simple to very complex.

Omamori aside from providing genze riyaku to the benefactor, can also have qualities of cuteness, fashion, convenience and so on. Some Omamori come in the shape and size of a credit card in order to fit in your wallet. Some are sold as underwear if it is something that you need to keep a secret or if you are needing help with your sex life. And finally for fashion, a Hello Kitty Omamori (who is known as Kitty-Chan in Japan) to some is never a bad thing.