During a person’s life, many changes may take place in their body and/or environment over the years. As a result, it is said there is a risk of meeting with misfortune. Years in which there is an increased chance of misfortune or challenging situations are called Yakudoshi, meaning “Critical Years” or “Ages of Misfortune.”
The misfortune years for men are at age 25, 42, and 61, and for women are at age 19, 33, 37, and 61. All of these ages are Kazoedoshi (Eastern Age*). It is apparent from historical texts that Yakudoshi already existed as a custom during the Heian Period in Japan (794 – 1185 CE).
*Before your birthday, add 2 years. After your birthday, add 1 year. Please visit here for details.
However, Yakudoshi are not the only years that one needs to take into account. In addition to the designated misfortune year or “Hon-yaku,” the year before a misfortune year, “Mae-yaku,” and the year after, “Ato-yaku,” also require careful attention in order to avoid misfortune. For this reason, it is necessary to think of Yakudoshi as a three-year period. During this three-year period, people go to Shinto shrines in order to receive blessings from priests to ward off evil and to cleanse themselves of evil influence. Especially Taiyaku 大厄which is middle age Yakudoshi (age 33 and a year before, a year after) are believed very critical. People also pray to purify their bad luck and for good luck charms to bring about better fortune.
We offer a very special Yakudoshi ritual blessing which we have passed down for generations in our family and at Shusse Inari Shrine.
人生の中でも身体や環境に変化が訪れる時期であることから、災厄に見舞われる恐れがある年齢とされ、その年齢を厄年と言います。女性の33歳、男性の42歳は大厄とされ、特に大きな厄難に見舞われる可能性があると言われています。厄年の風習は平安時代にはすでにあったそうです。
厄年は、本厄とされる厄年の年だけでなく、前年を前厄、翌年を後厄といい、3年間は注意が必要とされています。そのため、前厄、本厄、後厄の3年間は、新年や節分に神社に参拝して厄除け・厄祓いのご祈祷を受け、災厄をお祓いし、開運招福を祈願します。アメリカ出世稲荷神社では、当神社に古くから伝わる特別なご祈祷で厄除け・厄祓いをご奉仕しています。
| 女性/Female | 男性/Male | |
| 前厄 / Mae-yaku | 18 | 24 |
| 本厄 / Hon-yaku | 19 | 25 |
| 後厄 / Ato-yaku | 20 | 26 |
| 前厄 / Mae-yaku | 32 | 41 |
| 本厄 / Hon-yaku [大厄Taiyaku] | 33 | 42 |
| 後厄 / Ato-yaku | 34 | 43 |
| 前厄 / Mae-yaku | 36 | |
| 本厄 / Hon-yaku | 37 | |
| 後厄 / Ato-yaku | 38 | |
| 本厄 / Hon-yaku | 61 (還暦Kanreki) | 61(還暦Kanreki) |
| 女性/Female | 男性/Male | |
| 前厄 / Mae-yaku | 18 (born 2006) | 24 (born 2000) |
| 本厄 / Hon-yaku | 19 (born 2005) | 25 (born 1999) |
| 後厄 / Ato-yaku | 20 (born 2004) | 26 (born 1998) |
| 前厄 / Mae-yaku | 32 (born 1992) | 41 (born 1983) |
| 本厄 / Hon-yaku [大厄Taiyaku] | 33 (born 1991) | 42 (born 1982) |
| 後厄 / Ato-yaku | 34 (born 1990) | 43 (born 1981) |
| 前厄 / Mae-yaku | 36 (born 1988) | |
| 本厄 / Hon-yaku | 37 (born 1987) | |
| 後厄 / Ato-yaku | 38 (born 1986) | |
| 本厄 / Hon-yaku | 61 (born 1963) | 61 (born 1963) |
The ceremony has a minimum donation of $100 plus shipping when applicable and includes one Omamori. There is a Yakunan Shōjo Ofuda for Yakudoshi available with the ceremony for an additional $20.
