Another amulet for success

Last year, I wrote about how I was on my way to Hachimangu, a shrine known for its benevolence in success, to buy an amulet for "juken" entrance exams, when I ended up buying one at Naritasan instead. The why and more here. I was very happy with the amulet I got at Naritasan, so much so that I went back this year to get another one for my daughter. But unlike my son last year, who only applied for one school, my daughter has applied to two schools, so she has two high school entrance exams this year.

The first entrance exam she did, for the same school as her brother, I got her the same amulet I got her brother last year. She already knows that she passed those exams with flying colors. But she really wants to go to a public school (because she doesn't want to have school on Saturdays!) and she has that entrance exam this week. So I wanted to get her another amulet for those exams. And seen as last year I never got the one at Hachimangu, I decided that is where I would get her amulet for her second tests. I also wanted to pray for her there, because it is known for "juken" prayers.

Like Naritasan, the amulet for entrance exams is pencils. There are five different colors in the set, and it cost 500 yen - so 100 yen per pencil! Among the colors is purple, which the Naritasan amulet didn't have. I personally associate purple with luck for some reason, (it's not cultural), so I was happy to see purple among the mix. But as any good shrine will tell you - prayers and amulets are not enough, you have to put in the work too!