Omikuji and the Japanese tradition of beginnings
A few years ago, a scholarship enabled an educational project in Japan. Ten days were spent in Tokyo, teaching Spanish to university students and exploring the culture that surrounds language learning. The journey began with a visit to Hie Jinja Temple, a doorway to a tradition that has endured for centuries. At temples across Japan, people begin the year with a small ritual called omikuji, a form of divine lottery. For a few yen, visitors choose a fortune from hundreds of paper slips tucked away in sacred spaces. Each slip carries a general forecast for the year ahead, with more precise notes about love, work, travel, health, and other life aspects. In a sense, omikuji becomes a personal amulet and a moment of reflection for many.
In the first days of 2024, temples in Japan welcomed many visitors who sought clues about wealth, luck, and opportunity for the year ahead. A parchment from those days often carried memorable phrases. One line recalled a future house move, and another simply urged action: Whatever you have to do, do it now.
Mar Galindo’s column: “The 12 days of Christmas”
Mar Galindo
Meiji Jingu Shrine, another landmark Tokyo temple, was part of the author’s journey. Omikuji can be explored with a few quick taps in today’s digital world as well. The writer even asked for a prediction for a basketball team. The message for the team, delivered by a temple source, spoke to persistence: progress is unlikely if tasks are abandoned because they seem too hard.
victory remains a possibility only when effort continues. The same idea applied to a recent league match example — a tough home game against Tizona. Faith and determination, not luck alone, are what drive success. The challenge against Real Betis Baloncesto in Seville looms, but giving up is not an option. Luck favors the brave, and the saying holds true in sports as in life. The league is demanding, and the path to triumph is earned through steady toil.
Way to live
Mar Galindo
The coach encourages staying aggressive. Players should keep shooting even after misses, keep the ball moving when pressure increases, and find space to take clean shots. When the game is rough, one must stay active, stay focused, and keep moving. This approach sustains a league known for its intensity and competition every week.
In this spirit, the team from Alicante keeps its discipline. The familiar maxim still guides them: perseverance wins in the end. The lesson is simple and enduring — a steady, stubborn pursuit beats short lived bursts of effort. The journey through a demanding season mirrors the ancient omikuji ritual: a small, thoughtful act can shape a greater outcome over time.