“Superstition” refers to beliefs or customs that lack scientific basis but are widely believed by many people. Superstitions are deeply connected to culture and daily life.

“Whistling at night brings snakes”

It is said that if you whistle at night, snakes will come. Some believe this was originally taught to stop children from making noise at night.

“Cutting nails at night means you won’t see your parents before they die”

The phrase “won’t see them before they die” means not being present when one’s parents pass away. In the past, cutting nails at night by candlelight or in dim light was dangerous, so this superstition may have arisen from that.

“Sleeping with your head to the north brings bad luck”
Lying with your head to the north is called kitamakura (“north pillow”), the direction in which the deceased are laid. Because of this, people avoid it in everyday life.

“Don’t stick chopsticks upright in rice”
Placing chopsticks upright in rice resembles a funeral ritual, so it is considered bad luck.

“Throwing a lost tooth onto the roof or under the floor”
When an upper tooth falls out, it is thrown beneath the floor; when a lower tooth falls out, it is thrown onto the roof. This is done with the wish: “May a strong new tooth grow in.”

“Sneezing means someone is talking about you”
It is believed that if you sneeze, someone is gossiping about you. Unlike in English, where people say “bless you,” Japanese culture has no set phrase to say after someone sneezes. However, people might say “Are you okay?” or jokingly remark, “Maybe someone’s talking about you.”