Day of High-Stakes Decisions (Shōbugoto no Hi)

What Is Shobugoto no Hi?

January 8th is "Shobugoto no Hi" (Day of Games of Chance) in Japan. The date comes from a pun on "ichi ka bachi ka" ("one or eight"), a phrase meaning to take a chance and go for it, leaving the outcome to fate. However, it is unclear who established this day or why. Because it falls just after the New Year holidays, when many people face big moments at work or in exams, it is sometimes mentioned as a fitting day to think about challenges.

The Origin of "Ichi ka Bachi ka"

"Ichi ka bachi ka" was originally gambling slang, and there are several theories about its origin.

• The "cho or han" theory: The best-known theory points to cho-han, a dice game in which players bet on whether the total is even (cho) or odd (han). The top parts of the kanji for cho (丁) and han (半) look like the characters for "one" (一) and "eight" (八).
• The "ichi or bachi" theory: Another theory says it comes from "ichi ka bachi ka," meaning whether the die shows a one or you miss and get "bachi" (punishment).

How It Differs From "Noru ka Soru ka"

A phrase with a similar meaning is "noru ka soru ka" ("stretch or warp"). It is said to come from arrow makers, who put bamboo into a mold to dry and could only hope it would come out straight (noru) rather than warped (soru). Both phrases are used to mean "succeed or fail, let's give it a try."

Fun Facts About Games of Chance

• Ancient dice: Dice are a very old tool, and dice thought to date from around 3000 BCE have been found at archaeological sites in West Asia and elsewhere.
• "Katsu" for luck: Eating a pork cutlet ("katsu") before a match or exam is a uniquely Japanese good-luck custom based on its sound-alike "katsu," meaning "to win."
• Resigning in shogi: In shogi, a player ends the game by saying "I have lost." Gracefully admitting defeat is considered part of the etiquette of competition.
• Eight as a lucky number: The kanji for eight (八) widens toward the bottom, symbolizing growing prosperity, which makes it a lucky number in Japan.

Ways to Spend Shobugoto no Hi

• Pick a task you've been putting off at work or school, call it "today's match," and focus on finishing it
• Enjoy games with winners and losers, such as board games, cards or shogi, with family or friends
• Write down what you want to try this year and decide on a small first step
• Look up the origins of phrases about taking chances, like "ichi ka bachi ka" and "noru ka soru ka," and share them

Shobugoto no Hi is a lighthearted day born from wordplay. On this day just after the New Year holidays, why not set yourself a small "match" and switch back into work mode?