Futomani

Futomani (太占) is a traditional Shinto system of divination. Practitioners attempt to foresee future events by interpreting the pattern of cracks made by heating the shoulder-blade of a stag. The practice is thought to predate the introduction of divination by tortoiseshell, which was imported from China; archaeological evidence suggests it originated as early as the Jōmon period.

The kami most commonly associated with Futomani is Uraniwa-no-Kami (占庭の神), also-known-as Futonorito-no-Mikoto (太祝詞の命), a special Kami of divination.

Futomani is still practiced at the Shinto shrine on Mount Mitake as an annual event.

In aikido, futomani is considered an important adjunct to kotodama practice.