民俗ネオ神道 — minzoku NEO-shintô

Blog — 74

Using kokkuri san

Interested in finding out what the future may hold? Here's one method.

kokkuri san — originally a form of table-turning — in its later form is the Japanese version of a spiritualist's OuiJa board.

It is used to communicate with the spirits; normally the dead, however you can never be sure of who or what you're talking with. There are a number of yôkai who think it's very amusing to imitate the deceased.

You'll need a largish sheet of paper and a 10 yen coin (a quarter is about the same size you can't find one).

Write the Japanese for Yes, hai (はい) and No, iie (いいえ) in the upper corners.
Draw a torii in the center top.
Write the Japanese hiragana and numbers (0-9).

This version includes romaji, but that's not necessary.

How to play:

Place the coin on the paper.
2 or 3 people set their index finger on the coin.
All call out, "kokkuri-san, kokkuri-san, kite kudasi."
The coin should begin to move.
They can now ask questions. The coin will spell out the response.
After each response the players say, "torii made modotte kudasai."
The coin should move towards the torii. If it doesn't, keep asking until it does.
When finished asking questions, say "kokkuri-san, kokkuri-san, ima modotte kudasai."
When the coin moves to "hai" and then the torii, finish with everyone saying, "dômo arigatô gozaimas(u)."

Some rules:

Once your finger is on the coin don't remove it.
Don't stop playing halfway through.
Tear the board into 48 smaller pieces within a day and dispose of in running water or burn them.
Spend the coin within the next three days.

Again, you can never be sure who or what you've been communicating with, so take those answers with a small Siberan salt-mine.


	minzoku NEO-shintô A Book of Little Traditions

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	Blog — 74 Using kokkuri san Interested in finding out what the future may hold? Here's one method. kokkuri san — originally a form of table-turning — in its later form is the Japanese version of a spiritualist's OuiJa board. It is used to communicate with the spirits; normally the dead, however you can never be sure of who or what you're talking with. There are a number of yôkai who think it's very amusing to imitate the deceased. You'll need a largish sheet of paper and a 10 yen coin (a quarter is about the same size you can't find one). Write the Japanese for Yes, hai (はい) and No, iie (いいえ) in the upper corners. Draw a torii in the center top. Write the Japanese hiragana and numbers (0-9). This version includes romaji, but that's not necessary. How to play: Place the coin on the paper. 2 or 3 people set their index finger on the coin. All call out, "kokkuri-san, kokkuri-san, kite kudasi." The coin should begin to move. They can now ask questions. The coin will spell out the response. After each response the players say, "torii made modotte kudasai." The coin should move towards the torii. If it doesn't, keep asking until it does. When finished asking questions, say "kokkuri-san, kokkuri-san, ima modotte kudasai." When the coin moves to "hai" and then the torii, finish with everyone saying, "dômo arigatô gozaimas(u)." Some rules: Once your finger is on the coin don't remove it. Don't stop playing halfway through. Tear the board into 48 smaller pieces within a day and dispose of in running water or burn them. Spend the coin within the next three days. Again, you can never be sure who or what you've been communicating with, so take those answers with a small Siberan salt-mine.