kokkuri-san (game)
Kokkuri-san is a Japanese game similar to a Western ouija board. The name comes from a combination of the animal spirits that are called upon to answer the player’s questions; the kitsune (ko), dog (ku) and tanuki (ri). To play, the following is required: a 10 yen coin, a pen, a piece of paper and someplace to put the paper down on.
Players begin by writing "YES", "NO", the Japanese alphabet and a red torii. Players must place their fingers on the coin and invoke Kokkuri-san. Afterwards, the players are free to ask whatever question they want until they wish to dismiss the spirit.
The game must never be played alone or as a prank, finished halfway or end without dismissing the spirit and disposing of the pen, paper and coin. Players must also not take their finger off the coin until the game is over. Failure to do so will result in misfortune or death.
