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Japanese people love good luck bringers! Among all kinds of auspicious things, I want to write about plants that are considered to be auspicious in Japan.

Hozuki -Ground Cherry

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It was believed to be a protection against lightning. During the Bon Festival (festival of the dead), it is decorated as if it is a lantern which guides the spirits of the deceased.

Nanten -Sacred Bamboo

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It is a wordplay. Nanten = nan wo tenjiru = avoiding misfortune.

Fukujuso -Pheasants eye

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It is also a wordplay. Fuku = fortune, ju = longevity, so = plant. Fukujuso and Nanten are often planted in the same pot and sold in New Years Days as a auspicious group ptlanting.

Sakaki -Sakaki Tree

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The plant signifies the borderline of god and human. It has been used in the Shinto ritual from a long ago.

Asagao -Morning Glory

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The continuously growing vine signifies prosperity.

You may be familiar with some of the plants above. Do these plants signify anything in your country?

This is JAPAN Style!