What's Omamori?

Omamori is a Japanese good luck charm, and usually sold in Buddhist and Shinto’s temple in Japan. It derived from the word mamori (means to protect or give a protection).

Omamori is a small bag, made from cloth. Inside the bag, there is fold paper or a piece of wood with the name of God. As a handy stuff, Japanese often hanged omamori on their bag, cell phone, or rear view.

This lucky charm is designed in many forms based on where its made from, but usually it is written the name of the temple where the omamori was made.

Omamori Function

There are many functions of omamoris like as a love charm, a fortune for seeking a job, to be success in study, etc. Recently, there are omamoris with the cartoon character like Hello Kitty, Snoopy, and Mickey Mouse.

There is a belief, that omamori should not be opened, because it will fade its power. Another belief said omamori will last only in one year, after that, it should be thrown away to the temple where its made. Discard the omamori carelessly will bring a bad luck.

There are few omamoris. Kanai Anzen is a health charm, it used to get riddle diseases. Kotzou Anzen is a protector for driver to avoid an accident. Enmusubi is a love potion to keep relationship last. Anzan is a lucky charm for pregnant women in order to give birth safely. Gakugyoujoju is a student charm to reach a success at school. Shobaihnjo is a good luck charm for business and money.

Omamori used by mostly Japanese until today. On holiday, especially new year, people have a long-line up to buy omamori in notable temple with an expectation that their life will be protected from any kind of disaster.

The price of omamori is about 500¥-1000¥. Instead of its function as a lucky charm, omamori oftenly is given as a gift when someone visit the sick or the new mother, or to someone who want to take an entry test to the university.

Omamori and Ofuda

Beside omamori, Japanese has another lucky charmed called Ofuda. Ofuda is also known as shinpu. It is a good-luck charm from Shinto’s temple. Unlike omamori, ofuda is a sheet of paper/cloth/a piece of wood written the kami (the name of Shinto’s temple) which made those. Jingu Taima is one of the most famous ofuda, made by jute cloth and produced by Shinto Ise temple.

If omamori is placed as a hanging accessory, ofuda was patched at the door, gate, pole, or even ceiling. Ofuda that patched in the kitchen was belief to prevent from fire. If omamori is personal lucky charm, than ofuda can protect many people.