When you draw an omikuji, the “romance” section is probably the first thing that catches your eye. However, many people wonder “which section should I look at for love advice,” “I don’t understand the meaning of the classical language,” or “what’s the difference between romance, marriage prospects, and the awaited person?” The answer is that the romance section of an omikuji indicates “how your current romantic feelings or relationship will develop.” This article explains the meaning of classical expressions in the romance section, the differences between romance, marriage prospects (endan), and the awaited person (machibito), and how to interpret them based on your situation: whether you have an unrequited love, are in a relationship, or hope for reconciliation.
御要旨
- The “Romance” section indicates the trajectory of your current romantic feelings or relationship
- A comprehensive list of classical expressions used in the romance section with modern translations
- Reading “Romance,” “Marriage Prospects,” and “Awaited Person” together is the correct approach
- If you have an unrequited love, treat the romance section as an “action guide”
- Couples should focus on the gap between the Romance and Marriage Prospects sections
- For those hoping for reconciliation, focus on the Awaited Person rather than Romance
- Where is the romance section located on an omikuji?
- For boosting romantic fortune, draw omikuji at a matchmaking shrine
- In closing
The “Romance” section indicates the trajectory of your current romantic feelings or relationship
What the “Romance” section of an omikuji shows is the progress of your current romantic feelings or relationship. It focuses on the present moment of love: the fulfillment of unrequited feelings, the stability of an ongoing relationship, and the movement of romantic emotions themselves.
The various sections of omikuji were formalized during the Edo through Meiji and Taisho periods. “Romance” is a relatively new category. In the past, the only section related to male-female relationships was “Endan” (marriage prospects), but as free love became more widespread, “Romance” was established as its own independent section.
The romance section is included in omikuji produced by Joshidosha (the omikuji manufacturer based in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, which produces about 70% of all omikuji distributed to shrines nationwide), written in concise classical Japanese. Since the expressions can be difficult to grasp in modern sensibility, let us review the meanings of common expressions below.
A comprehensive list of classical expressions used in the romance section with modern translations
The romance section of omikuji uses distinctive phrases. From straightforward ones like “Your wish will be fulfilled” to ambiguous ones like “Your heart tends to wander,” here is a comprehensive guide.
Expressions indicating positive outcomes
| Romance Section Expression | Modern Meaning |
|---|---|
| Omoi kanau (Wish fulfilled) | Your romantic wish will come true. For unrequited love, your feelings will reach the other person |
| Seii wo moteba joju suru (Sincerity leads to fulfillment) | If you approach with genuine heart, love will blossom. Be patient and sincere |
| Omou mama nari (As you wish) | Romance will proceed as you desire |
| Yorokobi ari (Joy awaits) | A happy event related to romance is coming |
| Shinjite susumeba kanau (Believe and proceed) | If you trust your feelings and act, the outcome will be good |
| Yagate kanau (Will be fulfilled in time) | Not immediately, but with time, love will be realized |
| Aserazu mateba yoshi (Wait without haste) | Even without rushing, things will naturally move in a positive direction |
Expressions calling for caution
| Romance Section Expression | Modern Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kokoro-gawari ni chui (Beware of change of heart) | A time when your or the other person’s feelings may waver. Guard against fickleness |
| Kokoro utsuroi yasushi (Heart tends to wander) | Emotions are unstable. Consciously maintain a devoted attitude as you may be easily distracted |
| Omou you ni narazu (Not as you wish) | Romance will not go as planned. A period when things do not follow your expectations |
| Fukairi suru na (Do not go too deep) | Getting too involved will lead to negative results. Cool-headed restraint is needed |
| Sawari ari (Obstacles present) | Love faces obstacles or hindrances. Cautious action is required |
| Takanozomi suru na (Do not aim too high) | Chasing ideals too far may cause you to miss a good match. Cherish the person in front of you |
| Kokoro aratameyo (Reform your heart) | Reviewing your attitude toward romance will open the path forward |
| Shikijo ni oboreru na (Do not drown in passion) | Avoid being swept away by emotion or desire. Maintain rational judgment |
Expressions encouraging patience
| Romance Section Expression | Modern Meaning |
|---|---|
| Toki wo mate / Jisetsu wo mate (Wait for the right time) | Now is not the time to act. Wait patiently for the right opportunity |
| Isogazu mate (Wait without haste) | Rushing a confession or approach will backfire. Gauge the timing |
| Mizukara motomeyo (Seek it yourself) | Being passive will not bring progress. It is time to take action yourself |
| Hito no gen ni shitagae (Follow others’ advice) | Listening to advice from friends or family will improve the situation |
| Sawari nashi saredo yudan suru na (No obstacles, but do not let your guard down) | There are no problems at present, but complacency could trip you up |
It is important to note that even when the message says “be cautious” or “wait,” it is not denying your romance. Omikuji do not say “no” but rather “review your current timing and attitude.” The Association of Shinto Shrines also states that what matters most about omikuji is “using their content as a guiding principle for your life going forward” (Source: Association of Shinto Shrines). The same applies to the romance section: rather than getting caught up in the result, the proper approach is to use it as a reference for action.
Reading “Romance,” “Marriage Prospects,” and “Awaited Person” together is the correct approach
When checking your love fortune on an omikuji, many people read only the “Romance” section and stop there. In fact, combining the three sections of “Romance,” “Endan” (Marriage Prospects), and “Machibito” (Awaited Person) is the only way to grasp the full picture. These three sections each look at different subjects and time horizons.
What each of the three sections examines
| Section | Subject | Time Horizon |
|---|---|---|
| Romance | Romantic feelings, unrequited love, current relationship | Current emotions and relationship dynamics |
| Endan (Marriage Prospects) | Marriage, betrothal, engagement connections | Long-term flow of marital bonds |
| Machibito (Awaited Person) | A person who will bring a turning point in your life | Whether and when a new encounter will occur |
Think of it this way: “Romance shows where your heart stands now,” “Marriage Prospects shows the path toward marriage,” and “Awaited Person shows whether a new encounter awaits.” Even if you have someone you love and your romance is going well, whether you can marry that person is a separate matter. Omikuji address both sides through different sections.
Representative combination patterns and how to read them
| Romance | Marriage Prospects | Awaited Person | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good match available | Coming | Romance, marriage, and new encounters are all favorable. A time to be proactive |
| Good | Wait | Coming | Romance is going well but marriage should not be rushed. Invest time in deepening the relationship |
| Caution | Good | Not coming | Stay calm without being swayed by emotions. Find your marriage partner from existing connections |
| Good | Wait | Not coming | The relationship is smooth but new encounters are few. Cherish your current partner |
| Caution | Obstacles | Coming | Current romance needs review. The awaited person may bring fresh change |
By reading all three sections together, you can see messages from three directions: “How to advance current romance,” “What to do toward marriage,” and “Whether new encounters await.” Judging from just one section is like checking only the temperature in a weather forecast without looking at the chance of rain. Checking precipitation probability and wind speed too enables more appropriate action.
If you have an unrequited love, treat the romance section as an “action guide”
For those with unrequited feelings, the romance section of an omikuji can provide hints on the timing of a confession. However, omikuji are not fortune-telling about whether something will “come true or not” but rather a guide for action. Reading “Your wish will be fulfilled” as a guarantee that confessing will succeed is a departure from the original purpose.
- “Wish fulfilled” / “Sincerity leads to fulfillment” -> Your current approach is heading in the right direction. Proceed with confidence
- “Wait without haste” / “Wait for the right time” -> Rushing a confession may backfire. Deepen the relationship a bit more first
- “Beware of change of heart” -> Confirm whether your feelings are genuine. Reflect on whether you are acting on momentary emotion
- “Seek it yourself” -> Being passive will not bring progress. It is time for concrete action like reaching out or inviting them for a meal
Those with unrequited love tend to be sensitive to results, but there is no need to give up just because “Not as you wish” appeared. What the omikuji is conveying is “the current approach may not work well,” and changing your method or timing could shift the situation. Just as you would review your lifestyle habits upon receiving a “needs improvement” result on a health checkup, it is constructive to use the romance section’s advice as an opportunity for improvement.
Couples should focus on the gap between the Romance and Marriage Prospects sections
When someone in a relationship draws an omikuji, paying attention to the “gap” between the Romance and Marriage Prospects sections reveals the current state of the relationship more clearly.
If Romance is “good” and Marriage Prospects is “good match available,” it indicates a period when the relationship can naturally progress toward marriage. Conversely, if Romance is “good” but Marriage Prospects says “wait” or “difficult to arrange,” the message is that “the relationship is good but it is too early for marriage” or “more time is needed to deepen mutual understanding.”
Conversely, when Romance shows “caution” but Marriage Prospects says “good,” it indicates that despite small emotional conflicts or misunderstandings, the fundamental compatibility is strong. It is a time to look beyond immediate arguments or dissatisfaction and nurture the relationship with a long-term perspective.
The longer a relationship lasts, the more people worry about the timing of marriage. Reading the Romance and Marriage Prospects sections together provides hints on “what the two of you need right now.” (That said, marriage decisions should be made through discussion between the two of you, not by omikuji. Use it only as a “prompt for reflection.”)
For those hoping for reconciliation, focus on the Awaited Person rather than Romance
Those hoping for reconciliation should pay close attention to the Awaited Person section alongside the Romance section. The Romance section indicates “the trajectory of current romantic feelings,” but a relationship with someone you have already parted from may fall outside the scope of “current romance.”
“Machibito” (Awaited Person) refers to “a person who will bring a turning point in your life.” If the Awaited Person section says “coming” when you are hoping for reconciliation, it may suggest an opportunity to reconnect with your former partner. However, the Awaited Person does not necessarily refer to your ex. Sometimes an entirely new encounter turns out to be the one that makes you realize, “This is my true destined connection.”
- Romance: “Wish fulfilled” + Awaited Person: “Coming” -> There is a chance for reconciliation. But consider the other person’s situation too
- Romance: “Reform your heart” + Awaited Person: “Coming” -> Apply lessons from the past relationship toward a new encounter
- Romance: “Wait for the right time” + Awaited Person: “Not coming” -> A time to rebuild yourself. Do not rush reconciliation or new encounters
- Romance: “Obstacles present” + Awaited Person: “Not coming” -> Letting go of attachment to the past relationship will reveal the next connection
Regarding reconciliation, some people use omikuji results as an excuse to contact their ex, but this is not the proper use of omikuji. What omikuji convey is “your current state and the attitude you should adopt,” not a guarantee about the future with a specific person. The correct approach is to reflect on yourself based on the result and then decide your actions accordingly.
Where is the romance section located on an omikuji?
Surprisingly many people say, “I drew an omikuji but I can’t tell which section is the romance one.” The answer is that the position and labeling of the romance section varies by shrine or temple, but there are several common patterns.
On a typical omikuji, a waka poem (tanka) appears at the top, followed below by individual categories such as “Wishes,” “Awaited Person,” “Lost Items,” “Travel,” “Business,” “Studies,” “Romance,” “Marriage Prospects,” “Relocation,” and “Health.” The romance section sits among these categories and is usually positioned adjacent to “Marriage Prospects.”
Shrines and temples may label the romance section differently
At shrines, the section is typically labeled explicitly as “Romance” (ren’ai), but at temples, it may appear as “iro-goto” (matters of the heart) or “aijo” (affection). Older format omikuji may not have an independent romance section at all, with “Marriage Prospects” encompassing romantic matters as well.
Some shrines offer dedicated romance omikuji (koi mikuji, en-musubi mikuji, etc.). Tokyo Daijingu’s “Koi Mikuji” and Izumo Taisha’s “En-musubi Mikuji” contain content more focused on romance than standard omikuji, making them a good choice for those who want detailed romantic fortunes.
In any case, the waka poem at the top of the omikuji may also contain messages related to romance. Reading both the individual romance section and the meaning of the waka poem enables a deeper interpretation. (The waka is often called the “main body” of the omikuji, and skipping it would be a missed opportunity.)
For boosting romantic fortune, draw omikuji at a matchmaking shrine
If romance is particularly on your mind, drawing omikuji at a shrine famous for matchmaking blessings is effective. Omikuji at matchmaking shrines often contain more detailed romantic content, offering more specific advice than standard omikuji.
| Shrine Name | Location | Romance-related Omikuji |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Daijingu | Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo | Koi Mikuji (with washi paper doll; romance-focused content) |
| Izumo Taisha | Izumo City, Shimane | En-musubi Mikuji (content based on Okuninushi-no-Okami’s matchmaking blessings) |
| Jishu Shrine | Kyoto City, Kyoto | Famous for the love-divination stones. Omikuji also strongly romance-themed |
| Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine | Kawagoe City, Saitama | Known for en-musubi-dama (matchmaking stones). Omikuji also detailed on romance |
| Kifune Shrine | Kyoto City, Kyoto | Water divination omikuji (letters appear when floated on water; includes romance category) |
When drawing omikuji at a matchmaking shrine, the key is to read not just the romance section result but the waka poem and overall content together. Since the enshrined deity at matchmaking shrines governs connections, the entire omikuji is often written as a “message about bonds and connections.”
If you want to check your romantic fortune even on days you cannot visit a shrine, there is also the option of drawing an authentic omikuji online. Omikuji Sando lets you check your daily fortune, including romance, across 12 categories for free based on your date of birth. Consider making it a habit to check today’s romantic fortune during your commute or lunch break.
In closing
The “Romance” section of an omikuji indicates the trajectory of your current romantic feelings and relationship. While the classical expressions may seem confusing, knowing the meaning of each one lets you read the omikuji’s message more accurately. Rather than judging from the romance section alone, combining it with Marriage Prospects and the Awaited Person reveals your romantic fortune from three directions: “encounters,” “relationship,” and “marriage.” By reading with awareness of your specific situation, whether unrequited love, in a relationship, or hoping for reconciliation, omikuji become a useful guide for action in romance.
“Omikuji Sando” is a free omikuji app that delivers daily fortune based on your date of birth. Check your authentic fortune, including romance, anytime from your smartphone.
