ABSTRACT
When facing difficulties in life, many people pray to a spiritual being of some kind, even if they might not have a well-defined concept about the focus of their prayers. Illness is another of the crises in life which can trigger a recourse to religion – not only in Japan but among many peoples around the world who may consult religious specialists alongside, or instead of, other forms of treatment. If the person recovers, sometimes the cure is attributed to the supernatural agency, even if other forms of therapy have been used too. Spiritual healers of one kind or another have been active in Japan since ancient times, though their forms have to some extent transmuted over the centuries. 'Paying attention' to yakudoshis is manifested in practice mainly by special shrine visits and the buying of protective charms. Many informants confirmed the influence of a social awareness that they were approaching or in the time of a yakudoshi.
