Japanese Festival Game: Prize Lottery (Kujibiki)

Over the last couple of years, I have introduced many Japanese festival foods. But apart from food, festival stalls also offer games and activities that add to the fun of a day at a matsuri. One of the most common is the prize lottery, known in Japanese as kujibiki (くじびき).

At first glance, these stalls can look quite impressive, with large prizes such as game consoles, character goods, plush toys, and other popular items displayed to attract customers. For a small fee, usually a few hundred yen, participants draw a numbered ticket to determine which prize they receive.

Many stalls advertise "hazure nashi" (ハズレなし), meaning there are no losing tickets. Everyone wins something, although the prizes are typically divided into different tiers. A small number of tickets correspond to the top prizes, while most result in smaller rewards such as toys, sweets, stickers, or stationery.

Part of the appeal is the excitement of not knowing what you'll get. Children often gather around these stalls hoping to win one of the eye-catching display prizes, while adults sometimes join in for the nostalgia. Whether you walk away with the jackpot or a simple souvenir, kujibiki remains one of the classic games found at Japanese festivals across the country.