After drawing an omikuji, many people have wondered “which is better, chukichi or shokichi?” or “is suekichi lower than kichi?” While daikichi (great blessing) and daikyo (great curse) are easy to understand, the hierarchy among the middle-tier rankings is not intuitive. This article clarifies the correct order and original meaning of these confusing intermediate rankings. Once you properly understand omikuji rankings, both how you receive results and how you spend your days will change.
御要旨
- The Most Common Order Is a 7-Tier System: Daikichi, Kichi, Chukichi, Shokichi, Suekichi, Kyo, Daikyo
- Kichi Ranks Above Chukichi — It Is the Second-Best Ranking After Daikichi
- Chukichi Falls Between Kichi and Shokichi — A Fortune Where Effort Bears Fruit
- Shokichi Means Accumulating Small Blessings — A Time When Steady Effort Pays Off
- Suekichi Signals Future Improvement — “Sue” Means “Future,” Not “End”
- Comparing Kichi, Chukichi, Shokichi, and Suekichi at a Glance
- The 12-Tier System Adds Hankichi and Sueshokichi
- What Matters More Than the Order Is Reading What Is Written
- In Closing
The Most Common Order Is a 7-Tier System: Daikichi, Kichi, Chukichi, Shokichi, Suekichi, Kyo, Daikyo
First, the conclusion: the most widely adopted omikuji ranking order at shrines across Japan is as follows.
| Rank | Name | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Daikichi | Best fortune |
| 2nd | Kichi | Top of the kichi tier |
| 3rd | Chukichi | Middle of the kichi tier |
| 4th | Shokichi | Lower kichi tier |
| 5th | Suekichi | Lowest of the kichi tier |
| 6th | Kyo | Caution needed |
| 7th | Daikyo | Most cautious period |
The official website of the Association of Shinto Shrines (Jinja Honcho) also lists “daikichi, kichi, chukichi, shokichi, suekichi, kyo” as one example of the order (Source: Jinja Honcho “About Omikuji”). However, the same site clearly states that “the types and order vary from shrine to shrine,” meaning this 7-tier system is merely the “most common arrangement.”
That said, if you memorize this order as a baseline, you can navigate the vast majority of shrines across Japan. When in doubt, keeping these seven tiers in mind is the safest bet.
Kichi Ranks Above Chukichi — It Is the Second-Best Ranking After Daikichi
The most commonly misunderstood omikuji ranking is kichi. Because the characters for “kichi” look simple, many people assume it must be lower than chukichi or shokichi. In reality, however, kichi is the second-best ranking after daikichi.
This misunderstanding arises because chukichi and shokichi have modifiers attached, making them seem more specific and therefore superior. But when you analyze the word structure, kichi is “blessing itself,” chukichi is “medium blessing,” and shokichi is “small blessing.” In other words, the more modifiers attached, the more limited the degree of “blessing” becomes.
What Kichi Actually Means for Your Fortune
Kichi indicates “generally stable and good fortune.” While it lacks the explosive energy of daikichi, it is said to appear during periods when work, health, relationships, and other areas are all going well in a balanced way. If daikichi represents “surging upward momentum,” kichi is more like “steady progress at a stable pace.”
Looking at actual omikuji content, kichi tends to contain broadly positive phrases like “things will proceed smoothly” and “matters will go as you wish,” with few warnings about specific areas. (If you draw kichi, you can take it as a genuinely good result, even if it is not as flashy as daikichi.)
Some Shrines Reverse the Order of Kichi and Chukichi
An important caveat: some shrines adopt the order “daikichi, chukichi, kichi, shokichi, suekichi.” In this case, chukichi ranks above kichi.
Shrines that use this arrangement interpret “chukichi” not as “medium blessing” but as “the central ranking among blessings.” A single difference in how the word is read changes the entire order, and there is no definitive consensus on which interpretation is correct. The most reliable approach is to check which order the shrine where you drew your omikuji uses. Many shrines post the order near their omikuji area, and if there is no sign, you can ask at the shrine office.
Chukichi Falls Between Kichi and Shokichi — A Fortune Where Effort Bears Fruit
Chukichi literally means “medium blessing” and sits at 3rd place in the 7-tier system. While it does not carry the momentum of daikichi or kichi, it indicates a period when results steadily accumulate.
The Message Behind Chukichi
The hallmark of chukichi is that “good results are likely in specific areas.” While kichi indicates broadly favorable conditions, chukichi typically shows variation across categories — for example, “work goes well but watch your health” or “relationships are good but finances are modest.”
If you carefully read each item on your omikuji (wishes, awaited person, business, studies, etc.), chukichi often specifies exactly which areas are favorable and which require caution. Dismissing it as “just okay” after glancing at the rank is a missed opportunity — chukichi is precisely the ranking where reading each item carefully pays off the most.
How to Spend Your Time After Drawing Chukichi
When you draw chukichi, it is effective to focus your energy on the areas your omikuji identifies as favorable. For example, if studies are marked “kichi,” it is a good time to begin studying for a certification. If business is marked “smooth,” it is the right moment to pursue new deals or projects.
Meanwhile, in areas where caution is advised, focus on maintaining the status quo rather than pushing hard. Think of it like a weather forecast saying “sunny in the morning, rain in the afternoon” — you would handle your outdoor errands in the morning. Chukichi is the ranking that gives you hints about where to concentrate your resources.
Shokichi Means Accumulating Small Blessings — A Time When Steady Effort Pays Off
Shokichi sits at 4th place in the 7-tier system, right in the middle. As its name “small blessing” suggests, it points to a fortune where small, pleasant things appear in daily life rather than dramatic good luck.
The Difference Between Shokichi and Chukichi
Many people find it difficult to distinguish between shokichi and chukichi. Here is a concise comparison of the two.
| Ranking | Nature of Fortune | How to Make the Most of It |
|---|---|---|
| Chukichi | Clear positive results in specific areas | Actively focus on favorable areas |
| Shokichi | Small blessings scattered throughout daily life | Pay attention to small changes around you |
While chukichi means “there are specific areas doing well,” shokichi means “everything is slightly positive overall.” When you draw shokichi, try to notice small blessings you might normally overlook — perhaps flowers blooming along your path, or an unexpected message from an old friend. Shokichi could be called the ranking that encourages you to “lower your threshold for happiness and find joy in everyday life.”
Even with Shokichi, Individual Items Can Contain Daikichi-Level Content
Just because the overall rank is shokichi does not mean every individual item on your omikuji will be modest. Even with a shokichi overall ranking, it is not uncommon to find strong phrases like “great profit in business” or “marriage prospects are good” in individual categories.
The omikuji ranking is an “overall indicator of fortune,” while individual items are assessed independently. Knowing this prevents you from jumping to the conclusion that “everything is mediocre” when you draw shokichi. (In fact, discovering a hidden favorable item within a shokichi result brings a different kind of joy than drawing daikichi.)
Suekichi Signals Future Improvement — “Sue” Means “Future,” Not “End”
Suekichi ranks 5th in the 7-tier system, the lowest among the kichi tier, which leads to many misunderstandings. The negative impression of the character “sue” causes some people to interpret it as “it is over,” but this is a complete misreading.
The “Sue” in Suekichi Means “The Future” or “What Lies Ahead”
The “sue” in suekichi does not mean “the end” or “bottom.” Rather, it means “blessing will come in the future (yukusue)”. In other words, the message is “you may not see big results right away, but good things await you ahead.”
This interpretation connects to the Japanese word “suehirogari,” an auspicious term meaning “spreading wider and prospering as one moves forward.” Suekichi carries the same idea: “things are modest now, but fortune will expand toward the future.”
What to Keep in Mind When You Draw Suekichi
Suekichi indicates “a time to prepare without rushing.” Specifically, the following approaches align well with suekichi’s fortune.
- If starting something new, spend time on research and preparation rather than jumping straight in
- In relationships, build trust steadily. Do not demand immediate results
- For finances, avoid large expenditures and focus on prudent saving
- For health, it is a good time to review your lifestyle habits
Think of suekichi as a “seed-planting season.” Flowers do not bloom immediately after planting seeds, but with consistent care, sprouts will emerge. What suekichi indicates is precisely such a “preparation period.”
Comparing Kichi, Chukichi, Shokichi, and Suekichi at a Glance
Here is a summary of the four rankings explained so far for quick reference.
| Ranking | Position (7-tier) | Nature of Fortune | Image | Recommended Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kichi | 2nd | Broadly stable and good | A calm, sunny day | Pursue a wide range of goals |
| Chukichi | 3rd | Strong in specific areas | Sunny morning, cloudy afternoon | Focus investment on strong areas |
| Shokichi | 4th | Small blessings in daily life | Overcast but with patches of sunshine | Notice small good things around you |
| Suekichi | 5th | Modest now, improving later | Cloudy morning, clearing in the afternoon | Prepare patiently without rushing |
As the character “kichi” (blessing) appears in all four, each is fundamentally a positive fortune. None are in the kyo tier, so you can receive any of them positively. The only difference is “how the goodness manifests” — the essence of “good” is shared across all of them. (There is absolutely no reason to feel disappointed about drawing chukichi or shokichi.)
The 12-Tier System Adds Hankichi and Sueshokichi
Some shrines use a 12-tier omikuji system that further subdivides the standard seven tiers. The main difference from the 7-tier system is the addition of intermediate rankings within both the kichi and kyo tiers.
| Rank | Name | Correspondence to 7-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Daikichi | Same |
| 2nd | Kichi | Same |
| 3rd | Chukichi | Same |
| 4th | Shokichi | Same |
| 5th | Hankichi | Added between shokichi and suekichi |
| 6th | Suekichi | Same |
| 7th | Sueshokichi | Added between suekichi and kyo |
| 8th | Kyo | Same |
| 9th | Shokyo | Added between kyo and daikyo |
| 10th | Hankyo | Added between shokyo and suekyo |
| 11th | Suekyo | Added before daikyo |
| 12th | Daikyo | Same |
Hankichi Is Exactly Between Shokichi and Suekichi
Hankichi means “half blessing” — a state where half of the blessing element remains. There is not as clear a sense of good fortune as shokichi, but it is not as “future-oriented” as suekichi either. It is a time suited for maintaining the status quo while making small steps forward.
For those who have only drawn 7-tier omikuji, this ranking may be unfamiliar, but having an additional tier between shokichi and suekichi allows for a more precise understanding of “where your fortune currently stands.”
Sueshokichi Is the Lowest Blessing Tier, but Still Not a Curse
In the 12-tier system, sueshokichi sits below suekichi and just above kyo. The combination of both “sue” and “sho” might cause anxiety, but as the character “kichi” (blessing) is still present, it is not a curse.
The message of sueshokichi is “your fortune is on the lower end right now, but it is not heading in a bad direction.” While suekichi says “things will improve in the future,” sueshokichi carries the nuance of “barely holding on within the blessing zone.” It is a time to postpone major decisions and focus on living each day thoughtfully. (There is no need to feel down about drawing sueshokichi — after all, it is not a curse.)
What Matters More Than the Order Is Reading What Is Written
While the order and hierarchy of omikuji rankings naturally draw attention, the true value of omikuji lies not in the ranking but in the individual fortune categories and waka poetry written on them.
The Association of Shinto Shrines states on its official website that “rather than drawing omikuji solely for the purpose of determining good or bad fortune, what matters most is using its content as a guideline for your future life.” Getting excited or disappointed over rankings is a natural human reaction, but stopping there is a missed opportunity.
The Best Way to Use Omikuji Is Like a Weather Forecast
The smartest way to use omikuji is the same as using a weather forecast. If the forecast says “rain in the afternoon,” you bring an umbrella. Similarly, if your omikuji says “be cautious about health,” you avoid overexertion; if it says “be modest in business,” you avoid large investments. What matters is how you act based on the result, not being controlled by the result itself.
This is especially true when you draw middle-tier rankings like chukichi, shokichi, or suekichi, which is when reading individual items is most valuable. With daikichi, you can interpret it as “everything will generally go well,” and with kyo, as “be cautious overall.” But middle-tier rankings often have “a mix of favorable and unfavorable areas,” making it possible to specifically identify which areas are strong and which need attention.
The Waka Poetry Is the True Heart of the Omikuji
Most omikuji include waka poetry (or Chinese poetry). Many people skip over this, thinking it is merely decorative, but historically, the waka poetry is actually the main body of the omikuji.
The “Ganzan Daishi Hyakusen” (Ganzan Daishi’s Hundred Lots), considered the prototype of omikuji and devised by the Heian-period monk Ryogen (Ganzan Daishi), originally had no daikichi or kyo rankings at all — it consisted solely of Chinese poetry and its interpretation. The fortune rankings were added in later eras. The original omikuji was meant for reading and interpreting poetic texts to guide one’s actions.
Caring about ranking order is natural, but the next time you draw an omikuji, try reading the waka poetry as well. It contains nuanced messages that cannot be expressed through simple words like daikichi or kyo.
In Closing
The middle-tier omikuji rankings can be confusing, but the basic order is kichi, chukichi, shokichi, suekichi — with kichi being the highest. However, since the order can differ from shrine to shrine, checking the posted order at the shrine where you drew is the most reliable approach. Above all, what matters most is not getting caught up in ranking order, but using the content as a guide for daily action. Whether you draw chukichi, shokichi, or suekichi, remember that as long as the character “kichi” (blessing) is included, they are all fortunes you can receive positively.
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