Saju and Fortune Telling Are Universal Interests... What Kind of Fortune Telling Do They Do in Japan? [Sunday Culture]

Japanese Fortune-Telling Culture
Similar to Saju, Palmistry, and Onomancy in East Asian Cultural Sphere
Shamans Passed Down Through Generations Among Indigenous People Also Exist
Fortune Prediction Using Blood Type and Zodiac Signs

"Does anyone know someone who is good at shamanistic fortune-telling or Four Pillars of Destiny (Saju)?"

Perhaps because it's the year-end and New Year season, it seems that many people around me these days want to have their fortune told. When a fortune-teller or shaman YouTuber predicts or correctly guesses something, comments saying they have come on a pilgrimage to a sacred place flood in. At one time, there was even a TV program themed on exorcism, where mediums chased away possessed people, and the movie "Pamy?" dealt with a similar theme. The popularity of shamanism in Korea does not seem to fade.

Since Saju, palmistry, physiognomy, etc., are part of East Asian culture, Japan also has a culture of fortune-telling. They have roles similar to Korean shamans. Today, I will tell you about the fortune-telling culture in Japan. This is just an introduction, so believe it or not. Blind faith is not recommended.

Illustration of a Japanese fortune teller. Irastoya.

Because Japan belongs to the East Asian cultural sphere, they also do many fortune-telling practices similar to Korea. The famous "Omikuji," where you pay money at a shrine to predict good or bad luck, is well known, but there are also Saju Palja (Four Pillars of Destiny), physiognomy, palmistry, and onomancy. Saju is also done by looking at the birth date, month, year, and time of birth, so the process is similar. Among these, a fortune-telling method unfamiliar in Korea but found in Japan is "Shukuy?sen." It is said to be based on the Chinese Shukuy? Sutra and further developed in Japan, where fortunes are told based on constellations formed by the movement of the moon. The "Zodiac 12 signs" talked about in Western astrology are based on the movement of the sun, so it is distinctly different from Western astrology.

Another difference from Korea is that in Japan, fortunes are often told based on constellations and blood types. In Korea, horoscopes in morning newspapers are usually based on the 12 zodiac animals, but in Japan, they often use constellations. So, people with good luck this year are ranked not by the 12 zodiac animals like in Korea but by combinations like "Leo A type." According to Japanese LINE fortune-telling, the top three people with good luck next year are Gemini O type, Cancer A type, and Sagittarius AB type.

Screenshot of Japan's 2025 free fortune-telling site. Line.

There are also similarities to Korean shamanistic fortune-telling. Although the concept is a bit different from "receiving a god," there are people who can see or feel spirits, called "Reinosha (?能者, spiritual ability persons)." They provide spiritual inspiration fortune-telling. However, their prices seem to be somewhat high. According to their websites, prices vary depending on their spiritual power, but usually, it is 9,900 yen (about 92,547 KRW) for 20 minutes, and after that, 495 yen (4,627 KRW) per minute, which is more expensive than Korea, where apps charge around 30,000 to 50,000 KRW.

These people often introduce themselves by saying they became able to see things invisible to ordinary people after being sick, or that they have spiritual gifts inherited from ancestors who were Onmyoji (yin-yang masters), or that they naturally entered this path by predicting future events since childhood. These stories are not very different from those in Korea. The areas they cover include love, unrequited love, compatibility, affairs, employment, career change, financial luck, etc., similar to Korea. Also, "spiritual tarot" fortune-telling through inspiration exists in Japan just like in Korea.

There are also mediums still active as local indigenous faith practitioners. Among the indigenous people of Okinawa and Hokkaido, there are local shamans called "Yuta" and "Tusukuru." They have traditionally been responsible for performing indigenous rituals, communicating with local ancestral gods, and ensuring the well-being of their villages.

The most famous is the female medium "Itako" from Aomori Prefecture. They are known not just for receiving spirit possession but for undergoing harsh training such as mountain fasting from a young age. They are famous for performing "Kuchiyose (口寄せ)," where they channel other spirits into their bodies and speak through their own mouths, which is similar to the "Gongsu" given by Korean shamans after spirit possession.

Mr. Tak? Nakamura, the only remaining visually impaired Itako in Aomori Prefecture. Photo book 'Talking to the dead'.

In the past, only blind people could become Itako, but as they gradually disappeared from history, there are now only a few active Itako. The last visually impaired Itako is currently 90 years old and the only one left. Later, the requirements were lowered, and now the youngest Itako who is not visually impaired is in their 50s, so maintaining the Itako tradition is becoming an issue.

Anyway, we find Japanese fortune-telling culture fascinating, and it seems Japanese people also find Korean fortune-telling culture fascinating. In places like Yeonnam-dong in Seoul, there are many Saju and tarot shops. Sometimes after dinner plans, if there is time left, people say, "Shall we go see a tarot reader?" It is also convenient to make reservations for shamanistic fortune-telling, Saju, tarot, etc., through apps. Because of this, many Japanese tourists visiting Korea consider these Saju cafes or shamanistic fortune-telling places as tourist attractions. Especially in Seoul and Busan, there are quite a few Saju cafes where Japanese is spoken.

When the heart is restless and confused, people often want to rely on luck even a little. The trend of fortune-telling is not entirely welcome because of these circumstances. Wishing you a warm and heartfelt year-end and New Year season.