Daikichi

Daikichi (大吉) is a Japanese term meaning "great luck" or "great fortune." It is most commonly encountered as the top grade on omikuji, the fortune slips sold at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Omikuji are drawn by visitors who receive a random forecast about various aspects of life, such as health, wealth, studies, and relationships. The fortunes are graded, and daikichi represents the most favorable outcome, typically followed by other positive grades and, at times, negative ones; the exact ranking can vary by shrine.

The practice of omikuji has historical roots in Japanese religious sites and became a widespread cultural activity in later periods. In practice, a person who receives a bad fortune may tie the slip to a tree or a rack at the shrine to symbolically leave misfortune behind; good fortunes are usually kept by the recipient, sometimes brought home or displayed as a sign of luck. Even when the fortune is neutral or mixed, people may regard it as guidance or a personal omen.

Beyond religious settings, daikichi has entered popular culture as a symbol of luck and ambition. The term appears in everyday language, names, and media, where it conveys an auspicious sense of fortune. Overall, daikichi remains a recognized and enduring concept within the omikuji system and Japanese cultural practice.