Year of the Sheep

Ikuta Shrine continues to be busy with people visiting to pray for their health and their families happiness. It is also tradition to buy an omikuji fortune. Written on a thin roll or strip of paper, the omikuji  tells your fortune in various grades ranging from great blessing to ill luck.

The fortune also comes with an explanation concerning your prospects in health, love, money, career etc...   The custom is to leave the fortune behind if it's not good. Traditionally they're tied around the branches of a pine tree. There's clearly a lot of  bad fortune in Kobe!

Cultures grow on the vine of tradition.
Jonah Goldberg