Learn the superstitions about a snapped shoestring and a Mt. Fuji-hawk-eggplant dream
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Eric: Hello and welcome to Culture Class: Japanese Superstitions and Beliefs, Lesson 5. A Snapped Shoestring and a Mt. Fuji Hawk-Eggplant Dream. I'm Eric and I'm joined by Risa. |
| Risa: こんにちは！(konnichiwa!) Hi, I'm Risa. |
| THE TWO SUPERSTITIONS |
| Eric: In this lesson we’ll talk about two common superstitions in Japan. The first superstition is about bad luck. What’s the superstition called in Japanese? |
| Risa: 靴のひもが切れる, (くつのひもがきれる, Kutsu no himo ga kireru). |
| Eric: Which literally means "a shoestring snapping." Risa, can you repeat the Japanese phrase again? |
| Risa: [slow] 靴のひもが切れる [normal] 靴のひもが切れる |
| Eric: If you’re leaving your home in Japan and your shoelace snaps, look out. Bad luck might be coming your way. |
| Risa: This superstition comes from a funeral custom. |
| Eric: After attending a funeral, it was tradition to cut the thong of your Japanese sandals, or |
| Risa: "zōri." |
| Eric: Then you’d throw them away. So what should we do to prevent our shoelaces from snapping and giving us bad luck? |
| Risa: Buy strong shoelaces. |
| Eric: The second superstition is about good luck. What’s the superstition called in Japanese? |
| Risa: 一富士二鷹三茄子, (いちふじにたかさんなすび, Ichi Fuji ni taka san nasubi). |
| Eric: Which literally means "1. Fuji, 2. Hawk, 3. Eggplant." Let’s hear it in Japanese again. |
| Risa: [slow] 一富士二鷹三茄子 [normal] 一富士二鷹三茄子 |
| Eric: Imagine it’s New Year's in Japan. You have a strange dream of Mt. Fuji, a hawk, and an eggplant. What happens next, Risa? |
| Risa: You’ll have good luck! |
| Eric: This is because "Fuji" has the same pronunciation as the word "immortal." |
| Risa: Taka or "hawk" has the same pronunciation as "rich" or "high." |
| Eric: And the eggplant is associated with a big family, as it bears many fruits. |
Outro |
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| Eric: There you have it - two Japanese superstitions! Are they similar to any of your country’s superstitions? Let us know in the comments! |
| Risa: またね！(matane!) |
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