19-year-old track athlete crowned 'Lucky Man'

Jan 11, 2024 | News On Japan

HYOGO, Jan 11, 2024 (News On Japan) - The annual "Fukumairi" ritual, a 14th-century tradition held every year to determine the luckiest man of the year, was taken out by a 19-year-old university student on Wednesday morning.

"Open the gates!" marks the beginning of this heated winter ritual at West Nishinomiya Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture, known for Ebisu, the god of business prosperity. The 'Fukumairi' ritual involves a race through the shrine grounds, aiming to be the first worshiper of the Tōka Ebisu festival.

Around 1300 "speedsters" from across the country took part, with a long queue forming for the lottery that decided their starting positions.

At the sound of a drum, the main gate opened at 6:00 AM, and participants sprinted along the 230-meter cobblestone path.

Initially, a man in a black hoodie led the race. Then, a group of four took the lead side by side, any of whom could have become the 'luckiest man.' But in a dramatic turn, one of the leaders slipped and fell on the final slope.

Eventually, the winner emerged: Nozomi Takaya, a 19-year-old university student from Amagasaki City in Hyogo Prefecture and a member of the track team.

"This is my first time to join the lucky man race, so I guess I was lucky," said this year's 'luckiest man.' When asked who he wanted to share his luck with, he replied, "I'd be happy if it could cheer up those affected by the earthquake."

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