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Wishing on the Ema Plaques of Japan
Japan’s most wholesome tradition
As I stand in front of the countless wooden plaques, I find myself unable to move on. Each one represents a wish, someone's deepest hopes and dreams. I see many languages; some I know, and some I don’t. There is a certain magic in the air, a reminder that within each of us is a small universe itself.
Japan is truly the country of temples and shrines, and Shinto shrines are found plentiful in each city. The shrines are recognisable by the Torii gates, often in a bright red colour, that mark their entrance and separate the .
In each of these shrines, you will find a corner or wall with a board that holds a large number of wooden plaques. The plaques come in many shapes for each shrine, but if you look closer, you will find handwriting on each of them.
They are called “Ema” and are used to make a wish. You can write any prayer or wish on there, though some temples are specialised for certain things based on their “” (the deity that the temple honours). I saw some for love, some for things like back and knee pain and more.
