Japanology Plus

Season 8 Episode 21: Luck

In Japan, a great number of places, objects and customs are considered to be auspicious. Examples include beckoning cats called "maneki neko," and a special meal eaten on New Year's Day. Our guest is Shintani Takanori, who has been studying folk customs for many years. He explains the rituals and beliefs associated with visiting a shrine. He describes the complex meaning behind well-known customs. And he talks about a Japanese tendency to keep seeking out new sources of good fortune.

Genre:

Documentary, Talk

Seasons:

13

Episodes:

365

Cast:

Peter Barakan

Quality:

HD

Duration:

28 min

First Air:

2014

Rating:

6.4