Hatsuyume – First New Years Dream

In Japanese culture, Hatsuyume (初夢) is the first dream of the new year, where ” hatsu ” is the kanji for ” beginning ” (初) and “yume” means ” dream ” (夢). In Japan, the night of December 31 was spent without sleep, so hatsuyume is often taken into account during the night of January 1, becoming known as Hatsuyume , or “first sleep.”

Dreaming of certain images or themes in the dreams of the two or three days after New Year’s Day are a sign that good luck will come in the future.

In Japan, it is considered especially good luck to dream of Mount Fuji , a hawk , and/or an eggplant .

(You can watch the video of this post or continue reading below)

This belief has been around since the early Edo period, although there are various theories as to the origins of why this particular combination was considered auspicious. One theory suggests that this combination brings fortune to the dreamer because:

• Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan, which has been a source of inspiration for poets and artists
• the falcon is an intelligent and strong bird
• The word for brinjal (茄子 nasu or nasubi) suggests achieving something great (成す nasu).

Another theory says that this combination arose because Mount Fuji , falconry , and early eggplants were favorites of the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu .

Although this superstition is well known in Japan, it is often memorized in the form Ichi-Fuji一富士(Mount Fuji), Ni-Taka二鷹(Hawk), San-Nasubi三茄子(eggplant)

It is believed that there is an ancient method to be able to dream of these three traditional and good omens on the first night of the new year. It is said that you should put a picture of the Seven Deities of Good Fortune in their “Treasure Ship” under your pillow and that will make it happen.

The text in the image is as follows:

Have nice dreams ^^