Archive · 28 Nov 2025
Chinese Tourist Angers Japan with Fake Money
A Chinese man visited a famous temple in Japan called Sensoji.
He put special paper money, called joss paper or hell money, into a donation box instead of real money.
This paper is usually used in China to help the dead in the afterlife, not for wishing good luck.
The man and his friend said that Japanese fortune-telling sticks don't work for Chinese people and that they were 'deceiving the devils.'
Many people in Japan were upset because they saw this as disrespectful to their culture and religion.
The man drew a fortune stick that said 'auspicious,' which means good luck, but his actions caused a lot of anger.
A Chinese man placed joss paper (hell money) in a donation box at Japan's Sensoji Temple instead of the required 100 yen.
The man and his friend believed Japanese fortune-telling sticks do not bless Chinese people and were 'deceiving the devils.'
The man drew a fortune stick with the inscription 'Kichi,' meaning auspicious, after replacing the money with joss paper.
The act sparked widespread outrage in Japan, viewed as disrespectful behavior at a cultural and religious site.
In China, joss paper is used to help the dead in the afterlife and is not meant for wishing good fortune.
- Who
- A Chinese man and his friend
- What
- Placed joss paper in a donation box at Sensoji Temple
- When
- Not specified
- Where
- Sensoji Temple, Japan
- Why
- To seek blessings, believing Japanese fortune-telling sticks do not bless Chinese people
- Location
- Sensoji Temple, Japan
- Currency Used
- Joss paper (hell money)
- Donation Amount
- 100 yen (Rs 57.24)
- Fortune Stick Number
- 68
- Fortune Meaning
- Kichi (auspicious)