Notice the deliberate mistake?
The number 4 is considered unlucky in Japan because it is pronounced "shi" - the same sound as the Chinese character for death. In spoken Japanese, the alternative reading "yon" is often preferred and in certain more old-fashioned establishments (such as this onsen bathhouse), 3 jumps straight to 5.
Carp Streamers
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Unlucky 4 Some
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3 comments:
and then of course the 9 is missing too. and you know what 9 and 4 equals....
that's sharp, stu, but how come they actually have the 13? come to think of it, I think the 9 might be absent because one of its pronunciations is 'ku' which is the name of the character for 'painful'.
Well spotted - I didn't notice that at all. But I've heard the same theory about "ku" as Carol.
It reminds me of a novelty towel I once saw emblazoned with "yoroshiku" (a common greeting) written in these characters:
"Yo" - Night
"Ro" - *Can't remember*
"Shi" - Death
"Ku" - Pain
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