Souvenirs of Fortune


This morning, I stumbled across one of the small things I bought in Japan, a souvenir keychain from Toudaiji.

Toudaiji souvenir keychain

Turns out this little fellow has a secret.


He tells fortunes.

Toudaiji keychain fortune

Shake him, turn him over, and out pops one of two fortunes: 大吉 (“excellent luck”) or 凶 (“bad luck”).