User:Lululimonade/Japanese superstitions

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Some superstitions that are common in Japan have been imported from other cultures. The Japanese share superstitions with other Asian cultures, particularly the Chinese, with whom they share significant historical and cultural ties. The unluckiness of the number four is one such example, as the Japanese word for "four" 四 romanization: Shi is a homophone for "death" 死. The same is true for Chinese, 死 pinyin: sǐ is homophonous to "death." Unlike most other countries that view black cats as harbingers of bad luck. In Japan, a black cat crossing one's path is considered to bring good luck.

A significant portion of Japanese superstition is related to the Japanese language. Numbers and objects that have names that are homophones (Dōongo / Dōon Igigo (同音語 / 同音異義語, lit. "Like-Sound Utterance" / "Like-Sound Different-Meaning Utterance")) for words such as "death" and "suffering" are typically considered unlucky (see also, Imikotoba). Other superstitions relate to the literal meanings of words. Another significant part of Japanese superstition has its roots in Japan's ancient pagan, animist culture and regards certain natural things as having kami. Thus, many Japanese superstitions involve beliefs about animals and depictions of animals bringing about good or bad fortune.

Citation needed for hospital and hotel fact: https://guidable.co/culture/major-unlucky-numbers-you-must-know-in-japan/