![]() Sometimes, they’re 干支神籤 ( eto-mikuji), or zodiac-themed fortunes. There’s also a tradition of getting 御神籤 ( omikuji) from the shrines, which are rolled up paper fortunes. People will write on wooden plaques (called 絵馬, ema) their wishes for the year and hang them at the shrine. This visit is called 初も出 ( hatsumode), or the first shrine visit of the year. While Japan doesn’t celebrate the Lunar New Year anymore, there are still zodiac traditions at the New Year.ĭuring 正月 ( shougatsu), the Japanese New Year, many people visit shrines. Here’s a bit about the 12 animals and the Japanese zodiac years they represent: Rat “Zodiac” in Japanese is 干支 ( eto), but specifically the 12 zodiac signs are called 十二支 ( juunishi). They change every year along with the animal and add more dimension to the traits of the person born in that year. ![]() They are water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. Japan celebrates it on New Year’s Day, or 正月 ( shougatsu).īesides the 12 animals, there are also 5 elements (called “Celestial Stems”). The Chinese New Year is normally sometime between late January and mid-February. That just means they don’t celebrate the zodiac on the same day. Also, the Chinese zodiac follows the lunar calendar system, but Japan’s is based on the solar calendar. ![]() ![]() But there are a few small changes.įor example, in China, the calendar has a Pig. So… Are the Japanese and Chinese zodiacs the same? Do Japanese people believe in the Chinese zodiac?Įssentially, yes. The 12 signs are Japanese zodiac animals, and each of the animals represents a block of years 12 years apart.
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