Lottery Day (Takarakuji no Hi)

What Is Lottery Day?

Every September 2nd is "Lottery Day" (Takarakuji no Hi). It was established in 1967 by Daiichi Kangyo Bank (now Mizuho Bank), based on a wordplay reading: 9 ("ku") and 2 ("ji") together sound like "kuji," the Japanese word for "lottery ticket." The day serves as a reminder to check old tickets so that prize money doesn't go unclaimed and expire, and it's also a moment to reflect on how lottery proceeds contribute to public works and social welfare. On this day, a special "bonus drawing" is also held for tickets that didn't win in the past year, giving people another chance.

The Economic Reality of "Unclaimed Tickets"

To make sure good fortune doesn't slip away unnoticed, this day encourages people to build a habit of checking their tickets.

• Preventing expiration: Lottery prizes must be claimed within one year of the payout start date. Every year, tickets worth billions of yen go unclaimed, and September 2nd was chosen as a day to check tickets and avoid this "waste," from both a psychological and economic standpoint.
• Giving back to society: About 40% of lottery revenue goes toward local government public works, disaster preparedness, and support for an aging society. The dream of winning big and the support of public infrastructure are historically linked—a defining feature of Japan's lottery system.

The Science of "Anticipation" and the Brain's Reward System

The excitement of buying a lottery ticket and waiting for the results activates the brain through a fascinating scientific mechanism.

• Dopamine and "anticipation": Brain research shows that dopamine is released more actively during the process of anticipating a reward than at the moment the reward is actually received. The positive daydreaming that happens while holding onto a lottery ticket stimulates the brain's reward system and can be a source of mental energy.
• The probability bias: Humans tend to overestimate the likelihood of extremely rare events (the "possibility bias"). Enjoying the lottery as a form of "buying a dream," with this bias in mind, can be a logical and lighthearted way to relieve everyday stress.

Fascinating Facts About Lotteries

• The history of "tomikuji": During the Edo period, officially sanctioned lotteries called "tomikuji" were used to raise funds for temple and shrine repairs. Today's lottery system traces back to government lotteries revived to fund postwar reconstruction—always closely tied to the needs of the times.
• Winning odds and statistics: The odds of winning the top prize in the Jumbo Lottery are said to be about 1 in 20 million—roughly the same as the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year. Enjoying this "astronomical sense of the extraordinary" can be entertaining and a refreshing break from everyday routine.
• Digitalization and DX: As of 2026, buying tickets and checking results online has become commonplace. Data analysis of purchase patterns and push notifications to prevent unclaimed prizes are optimizing the user experience.
• The bonus drawing (a second chance): The drawing held on September 2nd. This system of holding onto losing tickets and checking them again symbolizes resilience—not letting a single loss be the end of the story.
• Lotteries around the world: In the U.S., games like Powerball can carry rollover jackpots worth tens of billions of yen. In many countries, how lottery proceeds are used—education, the arts, sports promotion—is also formally written into law.

Tips for Enjoying Lottery Day

• To mark "September 2nd, Lottery Day," do a full check of any old tickets lying around the house. Organizing this information and rediscovering hidden "possibilities" can help clear your mind as the second half of the fiscal year begins.
• Imagine a concrete life plan for "what if I won." Simulating a positive future is a psychological technique called visualization, and it helps reveal your true desires and goals.
• Stay mindful of the social contribution aspect. Knowing that part of every ticket purchase goes toward things like park maintenance and medical equipment can turn the activity into something more like "social participation" than mere gambling.
• Enjoy "managing a dream" with a small amount of money. Rather than trying to control the outcome, focus on enjoying the process—the anticipation itself. That's a scientifically sound way to boost everyday happiness.

A Grand Dream Held in a Single Slip of Paper Can Bring Vivid Color and Excitement to Your Daily Life, and the Rich Imagination of Picturing the Future Can Give You Real Energy to Face Tomorrow

September 2nd is a day to carefully revisit the chances already in your hands and turn a small spark of hope into something bigger. More than whether you win or lose, the lottery reminds us that believing "good things are waiting in the future" is itself a powerful source of energy for life. A few months into the new fiscal year, have you been so busy with practical tasks that you've forgotten to leave room for dreams? Today, just as you'd dig out an old ticket to check it, take a moment to search for the "seeds of possibility" sleeping inside you. When you step forward with positive anticipation, your outlook brightens—giving you the drive to move through the new season with excitement in every step. Here's to a wonderful autumn, carried along by that thrilling rhythm.