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Yakudoshi: The Japanese "Misfortune Year" and Its Cultural Significance

「厄年（やくどし）」には災（わざわ）いが起（お）こる？

Theme: History_Tradition
C1/N1advanced
May 7th, 2024

単語（Vocabulary）

ふりがな

Words	Meaning	Example sentence
災い	misfortune; disaster （Noun）	占いによると、今年はたくさんの災いが起こる年らしい。 According to fortune-telling, this is the year of many disasters.
祈祷	prayer （Noun）	昨日、家族全員で神社に行って、祈祷を受けた。 Yesterday, the whole family went to a shrine to pray.
宴会	feast; banquet （Noun）	いとこが結婚したので、親戚が集まり宴会が開かれた。 Since my cousin got married, my relatives gathered for a banquet.

Words

Meaning

Example sentence

災い
misfortune; disaster（Noun）
占いによると、今年はたくさんの災いが起こる年らしい。
According to fortune-telling, this is the year of many disasters.
祈祷
prayer（Noun）
昨日、家族全員で神社に行って、祈祷を受けた。
Yesterday, the whole family went to a shrine to pray.
宴会
feast; banquet（Noun）
いとこが結婚したので、親戚が集まり宴会が開かれた。
Since my cousin got married, my relatives gathered for a banquet.

記事（Article）

ふりがな

「厄年」には災いが起こる？

Yakudoshi: The Japanese "Misfortune Year" and Its Cultural Significance

日本には「厄年」という考え方があります。これは、災いが多く降りかかるとされる年齢のことで、男性は25歳、42歳、61歳、女性は19歳、33歳、37歳が厄年にあたります。厄年の中でも、男性の42歳と女性の33歳は「大厄」と呼ばれ、特に注意が必要な年だとされています。「42」は「死に」、「33」は「散々」と聞こえるから、という言葉遊びの側面もあります。
厄年を迎えた人は、前年の大晦日（12月31日）やその年の初めなどに神社を訪れて祈祷を受けるのが一般的です。寺院で悪運を追い出す儀式をしてもらう場合もあります。また、厄を落とすために身に付けているものを落として帰る、二月の節分に豆や餅をまく、厄年の初めや節分、誕生日に親戚や近隣の人を招いて宴会を設けるなど、地域によってさまざまな習慣があります。
厄年の由来は古代中国の五行思想（この世界が木・火・土・金・水の五元素から成り立つという考え方）で、これが日本に伝わり独自の文化として発展しました。現代の日本人の間では、厄年への捉え方は人それぞれであり、約半数の人が厄年を気にしているという調査もあります。厄年には結婚や転職など重要なイベントを避ける人もいるなど、厄年への関心の高さは、古来から受け継がれる文化や伝統を日本人が今もなお大切にしていることを示しています。

English Translation

In Japan, there is a concept known as "Yakudoshi, (misfortune year)" which refers to ages believed to be prone to misfortune. For men, these ages are 25, 42, and 61, and for women, they are 19, 33, and 37. Among these, the ages of 42 for men and 33 for women are called "Major Yakudoshi," considered particularly in need of caution. This is partly due to a play on words, as "42" can sound like "shini (= death)" and "33" like "sanzan (= thoroughly miserable)."
People facing their Yakudoshi commonly visit shrines to receive prayers on New Year's Eve of the previous year or at the beginning of their Yakudoshi. Some may also have a ritual performed at a temple. Additionally, various customs are practiced depending on the region, such as dropping something they are wearing when visiting shrines, scattering beans or rice cakes on Setsubun in February, or hosting a banquet at the beginning of their Yakudoshi, on Setsubun, or on their birthday, inviting relatives and neighbors.
The origin of Yakudoshi can be traced back to the Five Elements theory from ancient China (the notion that the world consists of five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water), which then developed into a unique culture in Japan. The perception of Yakudoshi varies among modern Japanese, with surveys indicating that about half of the population is concerned about their Yakudoshi. Some people even avoid significant life events such as marriage or changing jobs during their Yakudoshi. This high level of concern for Yakudoshi demonstrates that the Japanese still cherish the culture and traditions handed down from ancient times.

災い

寺院

祈祷

五行思想

元素

質問（Question）

ふりがな

記事の内容について答えてください

「厄年」とは何ですか。
「42」や「33」という年齢に関する言葉遊びは何ですか。
厄年を迎えた人が行う一般的な行動は何ですか。
厄年にはどんな由来がありますか。

English Translation

What is “Yakudoshi”?
What play on words is involved in the ages of 42 and 33?
What do people typically do when they are in their Yakudoshi?
What is the origin of Yakudoshi?

議論（Discussion）

ふりがな

講師と話しましょう！

あなたの国にも厄年のような、年に関する概念はありますか。
あなたの国では新年のはじまりに、何か特別なことをする習慣はありますか。
厄年に関する日本の習慣の中で、特に興味深いと思うものは何ですか。
あなたは厄年のような考え方をどのくらい信じますか。

English Translation

Are there any concepts like Yakudoshi that is related to age in your country?
Is there any special custom for the New Year in your country?
What Japanese customs related to Yakudoshi do you find interesting?
How much do you believe in concepts like Yakudoshi?

Author: gokigen japanese

gokigen japanese is an online Japanese tutoring service launched in 2023. Flexible, interactive, and culture-rich, gokigen japanese supports learners at all levels with bilingual Japanese tutors. Over 1,000 students from 30+ countries have used our 300+ original materials, including grammar guides and cultural content. gokigen japanese was founded by Hirofumi Naramura, a Kyoto University graduate and former Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group (2010–2020). The service has received recognition such as the Chiyoda CULTURE x TECH Award 2024 and acceptance into NEXs Tokyo, a startup program by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.