Kokkuri-san is Japan's answer to the Ouija board and it has been played in schoolrooms across the country for years. The game became so widespread in Japan that it sparked several hysterias in the media and many schools officially banned students from playing Kokkuri-san.
Using a ouija board can be dangerous because it can accidentally summon demons or open people up to the possiblity of being possessed. Kokkuri-san is much less dangerous since the spirit who is summoned is a trickster spirit from the Shinto religion.
Kokkuri-san is the name of the spirit who is summoned during the game and provides the answers. It is an animal spirit that is a mixture between a fox, a dog and a raccoon. Kok = kitsune (fox), Ku = inu (dog), and Ri = tanuki (raccoon). The fox can be either a trickster or a teacher, the dog is loyal and protecting and the raccoon dog is full of mischief but also a bringer of good luck. All of these qualities are combined in Kokkuri-san.
Young people ask many questions like, "Kokkuri-san, who loves me?" or "Kokkuri-san, will I become rich and famous?", but just remember that there are some questions you are better off not knowing the answer to.
To play Kokkuri-san, you need at least two people, a sheet of paper, a pen and a coin.
Step 1: Take a blank sheet of paper and draw a "torii" (a traditional Japanese gate) at the top in red ink. Write "YES" and "NO" on either side of the torii. Beneath this, write one row of numbers (from 0 to 9) and three rows of letters (from A to Z).
Step 2: Open a window or a door so that Kokkuri-san will be able to enter the room. The torii represents the gateway to a Shinto shrine and the spirit will enter and exit through it.
Step 3: Place a coin on the red torii. Each person should put their index finger on the coin.
Step 4: Call the spirit by saying, "Kokkuri-san, Kokkuri-san, if you're here, please move this coin."
Step 5: You can ask Kokkuri-san whatever questions you like. It will move the coin to spell out the answer.
Step 6: To end the game, you must ask Kokkuri-san to leave by saying, "Kokkuri-san, Kokkuri-san, please return home." The coin will move to YES and then come to a rest on the red torii.
step 7: When you are certain Kokkuri has left, you must destroy the paper. Either tear it to pieces or burn it. You must also spend the coin you used before the end of the next day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N
Two friends of mine played and when they asked if he was there, the coin slowly moved to no. One of them wanted to ask again but the other friend was too freak out and they had to stop the game.
