About Ema

Ema are plates of wood where visitors write down their hopes and wishes. I've read ema asking for everything from good grades, to family health, to blessings for sports teams. Different shrines and temples use different designs, often relfecting the local culture and deities. For example, about is a horse-designed ema from Shiroyama Hachimangu in Nagoya, where a horse kami deity resides. Visitors can purchase ema from five to about ten dollars.

Temples and shrines burn ema in a ritual meant to convey the wishes to deities.

Tiny ema are dangle at a wrack at Nagoya's Koshoji. 

A distinct rack of ema in Mie Prefecture featuring the famous natural feature: the Wife and Husband rocks. Many couples ties their wishes and hopes for prosperity here.