Ranking of Kichi Labels
Omikuji fortune labels come in multiple tiers: daikichi, chukichi, shokichi, kichi, suekichi, kyou, and more. However, the exact ranking varies from shrine to shrine, which means that after drawing your slip you may find yourself wondering, “Wait, how good is this one, exactly?”
The most common seven-tier system
The following is the simple ranking used by the majority of shrines and temples.
| Rank | Label |
|---|---|
| 1 | Daikichi (大吉) |
| 2 | Chukichi (中吉) |
| 3 | Shokichi (小吉) |
| 4 | Kichi (吉) |
| 5 | Suekichi (末吉) |
| 6 | Kyou (凶) |
| 7 | Daikyou (大凶) |
The most counterintuitive point for newcomers is that kichi (吉) ranks below shokichi (小吉). This follows a traditional convention where kichi, when used as a standalone label, is placed between shokichi and suekichi.
The extended fourteen-tier system
Some shrines, such as Iwashimizu Hachimangu in Kyoto and Shimogamo Shrine in Tokyo, use a much finer gradation. An example:
| Rank | Label |
|---|---|
| 1 | Daikichi (大吉) |
| 2 | Kichi (吉) |
| 3 | Chukichi (中吉) |
| 4 | Shokichi (小吉) |
| 5 | Ato-kichi (後吉) |
| 6 | Suekichi (末吉) |
| 7 | Sue-shokichi (末小吉) |
| 8 | Hankichi (半吉) |
| 9 | Hira (平) |
| 10 | Kyou (凶) |
| 11 | Sho-kyou (小凶) |
| 12 | Han-kyou (半凶) |
| 13 | Sue-kyou (末凶) |
| 14 | Daikyou (大凶) |
Notice that in this system, kichi comes right after daikichi and chukichi drops to third place, which is yet another ordering. The system is complex enough that checking the shrine’s own documentation is the only reliable way to know for sure.
Sensoji Temple’s distribution
The omikuji at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo are famous for having a kyou ratio of approximately 30 percent, which is higher than most other shrines. The temple has officially explained that this reflects their commitment to preserving the traditional distribution. Rather than being “the temple where you get bad luck,” it is more accurately described as “the temple that maintains old-school strictness.”
So which ranking should you trust?
The only correct answer is the rules of the specific shrine where you drew your fortune. Comparing rankings across different shrines is not particularly meaningful. The most practical way to use omikuji is to read the body text carefully and take home one or two small pieces of advice that resonate with you.
Rankings on Yuru Omikuji
On this site, instead of a traditional ranking, we use 30 original labels. Rather than competing over which rank is higher, the idea is to enjoy the personality of each label itself.