New Year's revelers tried to grab a fistful of fortune for 2025 at a western Japan temple's annual "fukutabae" event on Jan. 3, in which 3,000 "lucky notes" are dropped down to an eager crowd.
Visitors heard a sutra chanted by the temple's chief priest Anaho Gyonin and others before the good-luck charms drifted down from a 5-meter-high turret in front of Anao-ji temple's main hall in Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture.
Nestled among the notes are three in red, which are believed to bring especially strong luck. Those fortunate enough to catch one are said to become wealthy.
A 43-year-old homemaker from Hirakata in neighboring Osaka Prefecture who attended the event for the first time was one of the lucky red-ticket takers.
"I was standing at a distance from the turret, but the ticket just glided toward me. I hope this year will be a peaceful one," she said with a smile.
