The Influence of Kotodama: Spiritual Powers in Japanese Language and Culture

The Japanese term 'Kotodama' is typically translated as 'Spiritual powers dwelling in words,' a belief that has persisted among the Japanese people since ancient times. In our contemporary era, however, there are quite a few individuals who view it as nothing more than an old and insignificant superstition, even as they unconsciously strive to avoid using ominous words and numbers. In this way, Kotodama has become deeply ingrained in our values and culture. Due to this influence, it is suggested that Japanese people may not excel at crafting strategic scenarios because they tend to omit worst-case scenarios without much thought, instead trying to convince themselves that such events will never occur. This may be a well-known observation outside of Japan. Additionally, Kotodama often pertains to the subconscious usage of ominous words rather than positive ones.

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