Good luck charms for the New Year, Kumade

One of the most beautiful Japanese traditions, particular to Japan because it comes from the Shinto religion, is the annual replacement of the good luck charms. During the last months of the year and in the first days of the New Year, the new good luck charms are bought from fairs or directly from shrines and temples.

The first fairs, taking place at the beginning of November, are the Tori-no-Ichi, specialized in selling kumade, bamboo rakes decorated with a large number of auspicious items, put together to "rake in the good luck".

Each item contributes to the value of kumade: photographed here is a kumade having as main charm the effigy of the Seven Gods of Fortune (Shichi Fukujin), plus several old Japanese oval gold coins (koban) and bags of rice, all for good luck in business. The rice ropes and the ume plum twigs are charms protecting against evil spirits.