Bound By Fortune

At New Year, many people pay few hundred Yen to select an omikuji. The omikuji are randomly selected predictions for the proceeding year. Printed on strips of white paper, omikuji are either blessings or curses related to general topics such as travel, marriage, health and business. People generally keep good omikuji in their wallets or purses throughout the year and tie bad omikuji to tree branches or wire frames. However, good omikuji can also be left at the Shinto shrines and temples where they are purchased. This komainu, or guard dog, at the Ikuta Shrine in Kobe, has been tied with omikuji.