Japan's "Lucky Man" Race: The Complete Guide to Nishinomiya Shrine's Fukuotoko Selection
What is the Fukuotoko Selection?
Every year on the morning of January 10th, the city of Nishinomiya in Hyogo Prefecture hosts what might be Japan's most chaotic yet sacred race: the "Kaimon Shinji Fukuotoko Erabi" (Opening Gate Ritual Lucky Man Selection).
At exactly 6:00 AM, when the shrine gates swing open, thousands of participants burst into a full sprint toward the main hall. The first person to reach and touch the main hall is crowned the "Ichi-ban Fuku" (First Lucky), or "Fukuotoko" (Lucky Man), and is believed to receive divine blessing and good fortune for the entire year.
Why Nishinomiya Shrine?
Nishinomiya Shrine is the head shrine of Ebisu, the Shinto deity of prosperity, good fortune, and successful business. The shrine's annual "Toka Ebisu" festival (January 9-11) attracts over one million visitors, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in the Kansai region.
The Fukuotoko selection isn't just a race—it's a sacred ritual. According to tradition, the winner isn't simply the fastest runner; they are "chosen by the god" to receive special blessings.
Rules and Structure of the Race
Who Can Participate?
While technically open to everyone, there's a catch:
- Participants must win a lottery held the night before (January 9th) to secure a spot in the front group
- Around 5,000 people typically apply for just 108 coveted front-row positions
- Those who don't win can still participate from the back, though their chances of winning are essentially zero
The Course: Harder Than It Looks
The race covers approximately 230 meters (about 750 feet). Sounds short, right? But the course is deceptively treacherous:
- Starting Point (Omote Daimon Gate): Hundreds of people surge forward simultaneously at the opening
- The First Turn: A sharp 90-degree corner about 50 meters in—this is where mass pile-ups occur
- Stone Path: Slippery cobblestones that challenge even the most sure-footed runners
- Final Straight: The last sprint to the main hall
- Finish Line: You must physically touch a shrine priest to be officially recognized
The Domino Effect
Every year, the first corner witnesses spectacular pile-ups. When one person falls, they take down everyone behind them in a domino chain reaction. Navigating through this chaos while maintaining speed is the key to victory.
Why Becoming Fukuotoko is Nearly Impossible
The Lottery: Your First Obstacle
Before you even get to run, you need to win the previous night's lottery. With odds of roughly 50:1 for a front-row position, most hopefuls are eliminated before the race begins.
Speed Alone Won't Win
Interviews with past Fukuotoko winners reveal that raw athletic ability isn't enough:
- Situational Awareness: The ability to instantly react to fallen runners
- Balance: Sure-footedness on slippery stone surfaces
- Mental Fortitude: Staying calm despite being surrounded by thousands of screaming competitors
- Divine Luck: Ultimately, believers say, Ebisu-sama (the god) chooses the winner
Who Becomes Fukuotoko?
Past winners have come from remarkably diverse backgrounds: former track athletes, firefighters, office workers, and university students. Interestingly, self-proclaimed "fast runners" don't always win—which adds to the mystique of this divine selection.
The 2025 Fukuotoko Selection
The 2025 race was held on January 10th at 6:00 AM. Approximately 5,000 participants gathered, with the lottery for the front 108 positions held the previous night.
What Do You Get for Winning?
Winners receive:
- Official Certificate and Prizes: Including a sacred statue of Ebisu and commemorative gifts
- Media Fame: National television coverage guaranteed
- A Year of Good Fortune: Believed to receive Ebisu's divine protection
- Responsibility: Expected to maintain exemplary behavior as the shrine's "Lucky Man"
It's worth noting that not only the first-place finisher but also the second ("Ni-ban Fuku") and third ("San-ban Fuku") place winners receive official recognition and blessings.
Why "Fukuotoko"?
"Fuku" (福) means luck, fortune, or blessing in Japanese, while "otoko" (男) means man. So "Fukuotoko" literally translates to "Lucky Man." While female participation has increased in recent years, the traditional title remains unchanged.
International Fascination
This unique event has captured international attention as "one of the world's craziest New Year traditions." The combination of athletic competition and religious ceremony creates a spectacle that's distinctly Japanese—where sprint racing meets spiritual devotion.
Your Turn: What Are Your Country's Good Luck Traditions?
The Fukuotoko selection embodies Japan's relationship with luck and fortune—a blend of effort, chance, and divine favor. This belief that hard work, luck, and spiritual blessing all combine to determine one's fortune is a distinctive element of Japanese culture.
Does your country have unique traditions for capturing good luck at the start of a new year? We'd love to hear about them in the comments!
References
Reactions in Japan
I watch it on TV every year, and that moment when people fall is so nerve-wracking. But it's amazing nobody gets seriously hurt. Maybe it's Ebisu-sama's protection.
I ran 100m in the 11-second range in high school, but I think becoming Fukuotoko would be impossible. It's not just about speed—you need the judgment to navigate that chaos.
My senior at work participated once and said the pressure at the start is insane. He said you can't even run at your own pace because people push from behind.
The Fukuotoko selection isn't just a race—it's a sacred ritual. The winner has to live responsibly as the Lucky Man for a whole year.
As a local, I'm proud of this event. But some years participants have bad manners, which is disappointing for such a sacred ritual.
This tradition dates back to the Edo period. People truly believed the winner was 'chosen by god.' That spirit continues even today.
I didn't know women could participate too! Maybe I'll try next year. But I'd want to be called 'Fukuonna' (Lucky Woman) lol
I heard a firefighter won Fukuotoko before. When I become a firefighter, I want to try too. It's the ultimate test of physical strength and judgment.
Honestly, I think it's too dangerous. People get injured every year, and someday there might be a serious accident. Should we really continue just because it's tradition?
From a photographer's perspective, capturing that moment is incredibly difficult. But the sense of achievement when you get the shot is amazing.
It's hard to explain to my foreign friends. At first they don't get 'racing at a shrine?' But when I show them videos, they go 'Crazy!' and get super excited.
The 108 people in the front group—same as the number of worldly desires in Buddhism. I don't think that's a coincidence. Maybe a remnant of Shinbutsu-shūgō.
It's an event where reaction time and agility matter more than pure sprinting ability. It's fascinating from a sports science perspective.
The atmosphere of Toka Ebisu is amazing. The Fukuotoko selection is the highlight. It's moments like this that make me glad I live in Kansai.
Ebisu-sama is the god of business, so becoming Fukuotoko means guaranteed business success... That's what I believe, so I enter the lottery every year. Haven't won yet though.
6 AM is so early! But maybe that's what creates the sacred atmosphere. There's something beautiful about watching people run in the early winter morning, their breath white in the cold air.
This is absolutely insane! I had no idea Japanese traditions could be this exciting. Wish we had something like this in San Francisco!
This reminds me of the Running of the Bulls in Spain. But this seems safer... at least there are no bulls involved lol
As a German, I'm impressed by this chaos within discipline. Everyone follows the rules while competing with full intensity. Is this what being Japanese is about?
It's fascinating how a religious ceremony becomes like a sports event. This would NEVER happen at a French church!
We have New Year luck traditions in Mexico too, but nothing this physically demanding. Japanese people are really stoic!
As a Chinese American, Ebisu-sama reminds me of Caishen (Chinese god of wealth). But we don't run races for Caishen haha
As an Irishman, I'll say this: this is worth watching at the pub with a pint on the line. Top-tier entertainment!
We have many temple festivals in India, but I've never seen anything this competitive. It's interesting how respect for the deity coexists with competitive spirit.
Korean American here. Wish Korea had something similar. K-pop fans would go crazy watching this kind of thing!
Commenting from Poland. Watching this makes me want to plan a trip to Japan. Gotta time it for January 10th!
As a Brazilian, I LOVE this energy! It feels like the excitement of Carnival mixed with something sacred.
In Russia we jump into snow after sauna on New Year, but running? That's a bit much... But it looks fun to watch!
Australian here. Can't imagine this since January is peak summer for us. Running in the cold winter morning? Respect just for that alone.
In the Netherlands we dive into cold water on New Year, but this looks even harder. Japanese people are something else!
From Egypt. First time seeing prayer to god expressed this way. Cultural differences are fascinating.
Former marathon runner here, and I'd love to try this race. But 50:1 odds in the lottery? Might be harder than qualifying for the Olympics!