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Answerman - How Superstitious Is Japan, Really?


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Hiroki not Takuya



Joined: 17 Apr 2012
Posts: 2515
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 11:22 am Reply with quote
Just here as a Christian to say Justin is mistaken, many Christians don't know the Bible, but it is clear from what it says that people's spirits don't stay around as "ghosts" on Earth, but there are spiritual beings both good and bad that occasionally make their presence known here and their actions tend to form the basis of superstitions. My Asian friends say that they aren't superstitious but having red cords on their wrists, placing mirrors at the top of stairs, etc. are practices that are done "just in case". Yes, it is tradition but there is a thought that just because one hasn't experienced a supernatural occurrence one shouldn't do things that might invite one if the superstitions are to be believed. Like Estelle the White Mage said. And if nothing else "it can't hurt"...
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leafy sea dragon



Joined: 27 Oct 2009
Posts: 7163
Location: Another Kingdom
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 10:58 pm Reply with quote
Hiroki not Takuya wrote:
Just here as a Christian to say Justin is mistaken, many Christians don't know the Bible, but it is clear from what it says that people's spirits don't stay around as "ghosts" on Earth, but there are spiritual beings both good and bad that occasionally make their presence known here and their actions tend to form the basis of superstitions. My Asian friends say that they aren't superstitious but having red cords on their wrists, placing mirrors at the top of stairs, etc. are practices that are done "just in case". Yes, it is tradition but there is a thought that just because one hasn't experienced a supernatural occurrence one shouldn't do things that might invite one if the superstitions are to be believed. Like Estelle the White Mage said. And if nothing else "it can't hurt"...


That's the thing though: No normal person would label themselves as "superstitious" because that would mean they admit to believing in things they know are most likely false. That's a word used almost solely in describing people other than the one saying it.

I do wonder if Americans, to some Japanese people, have a reputation for a complete lack of concern for spirits and ghosts and other apparitions though.
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Kadmos1



Joined: 08 May 2014
Posts: 13555
Location: In Phoenix but has an 85308 ZIP
PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 5:22 am Reply with quote
I will say that out of all the folklore/myths of Japan I have heard of, the Hanako-san (toilet ghost) is probably the weirdest.
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Uter



Joined: 27 Apr 2016
Posts: 30
PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 9:25 am Reply with quote
Anyone know what show the thumbnail for this article is from? The image won't let me copy or drag it. Also, it doesn't appear in the article itself for some reason.

It's good that ANN makes these things impossible to decipher...
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leafy sea dragon



Joined: 27 Oct 2009
Posts: 7163
Location: Another Kingdom
PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 1:50 am Reply with quote
Uter wrote:
Anyone know what show the thumbnail for this article is from? The image won't let me copy or drag it. Also, it doesn't appear in the article itself for some reason.

It's good that ANN makes these things impossible to decipher...


I am 98% certain that is some version of Gegege no Kitaro.
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Uter



Joined: 27 Apr 2016
Posts: 30
PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:41 am Reply with quote
leafy sea dragon wrote:
Uter wrote:
Anyone know what show the thumbnail for this article is from? The image won't let me copy or drag it. Also, it doesn't appear in the article itself for some reason.

It's good that ANN makes these things impossible to decipher...


I am 98% certain that is some version of Gegege no Kitaro.


Thanks, I don't know anything about it. I'll check it out.
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