Many people may feel a sense of unease when they hear the word “yakuyoke.” However, the yakuyoke experience at Jindaiji Temple was not something to fear. It was a quiet moment to gently bring one’s mind back into order.
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As a place where you can always return to the words that prepare your mind and the memories of your culture.
The Not-So-Fearful Yakuyoke I Experienced at Jindaiji Temple
On the day I received Yakuyoke at Jindaiji Temple, I was strangely not afraid. Rather, I was left with a sense of quiet readiness.
As we entered the hall, the sound of sutra chanting echoed through the hall, slowly changing the atmosphere of the place. The voice was not strong and intrusive, but deep and steady, and it seemed to naturally regulate my breathing.
On the way there, the sound of conch shells was heard.
It was a sight I had never seen before, but the sound was very clear and harmonized well with the sutra. Even if you don't understand the words, the sound itself reaches your body. I realize that prayer is something that is transmitted as a feeling before meaning.
Why the monk's words stayed with me.
A monk told us this story at the place where the bad luck was removed.
People live in search of freedom, but over time, they often become constrained.
Yet, people will still say that they are living freely.
However, people cannot live alone; they live in a society.
Therefore, by listening to others and exchanging opinions, we can see things not from one aspect but from many.
This talk was not a sermon. It was quiet, calm, but very essential.
He said that freedom is not a state of behaving as one pleases, but a state of being able to properly exert one's power within a relationship. I remember those words falling naturally to my heart.
What the backs guarding the fire were telling us.
In a corner of the hall, a monk was guarding the fire. He was constantly making fine adjustments to the fire, watching the fire as he lit the firewood.
The fire should never be too strong or too weak. You must constantly watch the situation and keep adjusting it silently.
Their backs looked so big and dependable. Even without words, their backs seemed to convey the time and determination they have accumulated.
A person who has mastered their path—it was the moment I understood, not intellectually but physically, what that truly means.
Gentle light illuminates the hall
Carved lights hung from the ceiling of the hall. The lights, which are black in color, appear to be carved with different motifs at the top, middle, and bottom.
Even though I did not clearly understand the meaning, I had the impression that light was quietly descending from heaven to man.
Its light is not intimidating, just meant to gently illuminate.
I felt that Japanese prayer does not move people with strength, but aligns them with gentleness.
What Are Yakudoshi and Yakuyoke?
In Japan, there is a concept called yakudoshi, or "bad luck year.
The age at which one reaches a milestone in life is prone to changes in mind, body, and environment. For this reason, it has been passed down as a guideline to stop and reassess oneself, taking care not to overreach.
A bad year is not a year of misfortune. Rather, it is a sign for us to reflect and adjust our way of life.
In addition, yakuwari in Japan is not the act of driving away bad things by force.
Originally, this practice is known as"Yakunan Shoujyo"
, which means preventing misfortune from overwhelming one’s life.
We feel that this is not something to incite fear, but wisdom that quietly supports a way of life.
The Difference Between Shrines and Temples and the World's Way of Thinking
The difference between a shrine and a temple can be briefly explained as follows.
Japan has both shrines and temples, but the origins and roles of these two differ.
The shrine isShintoIt is a place based on the "God" and worships nature, land, ancestors, etc., as a deity. Temples, on the other hand, areBuddhismIt is a place where one can come into contact with the Buddha and Buddhist thought based on the teachings of the
This difference may seem obvious to Japanese people who use the two different languages on a daily basis, but to people from other countries, this difference seems very strange.
Nevertheless, in Japan, people naturally choose shrines for hatsumode (New Year's visits to shrines) and temples for yaku-yoke (protection from bad luck) and memorial services, depending on the purpose of the visit.
There, it is more than a religion.Culture rooted in daily lifeThere is a prayer as
Japanese Yakuyoke Is Not About Fearing Bad Luck
Many people may have the image of "avoiding bad things" or "driving away misfortune" from the word "yakuwaku.
But what I actually experienced and felt was Yakuyoke is not an act of fear of bad luck,Time to prepare your mind and environmentThe first time I saw this happen, I was surprised.
We stop at a milestone year to reflect on our condition and prepare to walk quietly into the future.
I felt that Japanese yakuwari is not a ritual to control the future, but a wisdom to prepare oneself for the present.
Some countries in the world do not have the idea of a "bad year.
I once talked about Yakuyoke with a friend from overseas. At that time, I was told an interesting story.
In India, there is not so much of the Japanese idea of age and religious delimitation of bad or unlucky years. Many people believe that "what should happen, will happen no matter what.
Instead of avoiding bad luck, we accept events as they happen. I heard that this is a natural value.
Even in countries such as Australia, there is not much culture of being aware of bad luck on a yearly basis.
Different cultures have different ways of perceiving and facing things.
Nevertheless, I believe that Japanese yakuwari is also a culture of quiet self-regulation, not born out of fear.
Gently supported by the kindness of others
On this day, before and after Yakuyoke, I was also touched by the unexpected kindness of people.
They see you are in trouble, ask you why, and offer their hand without asking for anything in return.
At the end, he sends me off with a smile and says, "Good for you. Not to exaggerate, but it was a memorable exchange.
I believe that Japanese culture lives on in these everyday gestures.
Japanese Prayer to be preserved as a culture
Through this experience, I have felt strongly that this is a culture that we want to protect. This is a culture that we want to protect.
I am not prepared to be a monk. That is the role of those who choose and master the path.
However, we can leave what we experience in words. In Japanese or in English.
If anyone is interested in Japanese prayer and culture through this article.
We feel it is a small way to give back.
Walk the quiet, sure path
What I felt at Jindaiji was not fear. It was a sense of quiet, certainty, and a sense of quiet certainty and gentle support
Now, I am walking on a path that feels right. Slowly but surely.
I will cherish this feeling and this memory. In Japan, this kind of prayer and culture is still quietly alive.
You may also like to read
- Travel Gallery with photos of Jindaiji Temple
- Seen Through Someone's Eyes
- Why Do Japanese People Eat Osechi? | Meaning of Osechi in Japanese New Year Culture
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*The content of this article is based on actual events and feelings as of January 2026. The content of events and responses may change depending on the time of year and circumstances, so please check official information for details.
