Omamori in Today's Society
Omamori are still very prevalent in modern Japanese society. According to a Japanese Broadcasting Network Survey in 1983, 75-80% of Japanese used such amulets (Reader). The purchasing of omamori and visits to local shrines constitutes the primary religious activities of many Japanese. However, although a high percentage of the Japanese population use omamori, many consider it to be “insurance” as opposed to their sole course of action (Reader 127). The idea of omamori as an insurance policy is coupled to the idea of “sympathetic skepticism”, or faith without belief (Reader 127). For instance, although Buddhist monks may not believe in the efficacy of Shinto omamori, they supply them anyway. There is a high degree of respect for the tradition of omamori and bodhisattva worship. Even with scientific advances and belief in practicality, many Japanese want to believe in these honorable Japanese spirits. They follow the act of using omamori as a spiritual connection to their ancestors and their heritage; they don’t rely on the omamori to provide them with luck, but they leave the possibility open for the omamori to provide their benefits. More simply, omamori fill the void in human intelligence, filling the void that is imagination and hope (Swagner).
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