Japan’s Bad Times and a Survival Guide

In Japan, certain years of life are considered to carry a heavier spiritual burden. You may have heard that your zodiac year (the year in which you become a multiple of 12) is a particularly auspicious time. On the other hand, misfortunes are more likely to occur during so-called “years.” pharmacist. The custom of “yakudoshi,” which translates to “unlucky year,” represents long-held beliefs that continue to influence many people marking major life milestones from career changes to marriage. While there is no scientific basis for pill-kid abuse, it remains a deeply ingrained cultural notion that is not designed to inspire fear but to encourage reflection and care.

What is a pharmacist?

The word “E-Nian” is written in Chinese characters and means “disaster” and “year” and refers to a period considered to be a period of declining luck, in which accidents, illness, or unexpected troubles are more likely to occur. These ages are used FengjiangIt is a traditional Japanese system. A person is one year old when he is born, and increases by one year old every New Year’s Day.

The most widely accepted pharmacist age varies by gender. The ages of men were 25, 42 and 61 years old respectively; the ages of women were 19, 33, 37 and 61 years old. Among them, men aged 42 and women aged 33 are considered particularly serious, often referred to as ” physical exerciseor “great misfortune.” The year before he was called “pharmacist” predecessor (former yakudoshi), and the following year is Atoyaku (Post Pharmacist), forming a three-year cautious cycle.

Despite drug addiction’s sinister reputation, it’s not thought to bring bad luck. Instead, it is believed that people should live more carefully, both physically and mentally.

The origin of the pharmacist

The exact origins of pharmacists are unclear, but references appear in classical texts as early as the Heian period (794-1185), e.g. The Tale of Genji. In this era, faith is rooted in Onmyodo — an ancient system that combines cosmology, yin and yang theory, and spiritual practices — has shaped how people understand destiny and the flow of energy in life.

Initially spread among the nobility, medicine practitioners became more common during the Edo period, when the practice became popular among the general population. Certain ages are thought to coincide with major shifts in a person’s life energies, making them more susceptible to misfortune.

Some interpretations are symbolic rather than spiritual. For example, unlucky puns are believed to be the reason why 42 and 33 year olds are considered “medicine boys”; the number 42, when pronounced “shi-ni”, is pronounced the same as the word “death”, and the number 33, when pronounced “san-zan”, is pronounced the same as the word “disaster”. Another view is that the age of many pharmacists coincides with a period of major social and physical changes—increased responsibilities of work, childbirth, and raising children, or the stress that comes with aging—which naturally lead to higher risk or fatigue.

What to do while being a pharmacist

For those who feel uneasy about entering the Year of the Medicine Master, attending rituals at a shrine or temple is a common reaction. These practices fall into three closely related but distinct categories.

YakuharaiTypically held at Shinto shrines, it involves purification rituals to ward off misfortune that has arrived. medicine yokeMore commonly associated with Buddhist temples, the focus is on prayer and protection against bad luck. Yaoshou is a broader term that refers to symbolic actions intended to “remove” one’s misfortune – sometimes through ritual sacrifices, sometimes through deliberate changes in one’s life.

These ceremonies are usually held between New Year’s Day and Setsubun in early February, although many temples and shrines accept requests year-round. Some people choose to participate in rituals during all three years of the Medicine Man cycle, while others focus only on the main years.

protected Yusen Amulets are usually distributed after “yakubarai” and “yakuyoke” ceremonies, or they can be purchased directly from shrines and temples and carried with you. The importance of guarding lies not in the act of obtaining guarding, but in the act of obtaining guarding. Instead, these talismans actually serve as reminders to be kind and grateful. Whether mentally or psychologically, Yushou brings peace of mind and peace.

In addition to encouraging formal ritual, the herbalist is often seen as a prompt to slow down and reassess. Contrary to popular belief, entering your pharmacist year does not mean you need to avoid major life changes, such as moving, changing jobs, or getting married. Some people even regard the drug boy as a “role year”, deliberately taking on new responsibilities in order to turn misfortune into motivation. The key is to be prepared – take care of your health, manage stress and avoid unnecessary risks.

Ultimately, the tradition of medicine men is less about predicting disaster than acknowledging life’s natural turning points. Viewed in this light, an unfortunate year can serve as a meaningful point of reflection—an opportunity to move forward thoughtfully and emerge stronger on the other side.

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Updated on December 26, 2025