Runes, tea leaves and chicken innards. A strange group, perhaps, but all have a place in fortunetelling tradition as aids to seeking insight and resolving indecision. Now, though, soothsaying aids are growing even more motley, with recent additions including Shinjuku Station, koalas, eggplants and squid among many, many others.
Updates to ancient divining practices really gained momentum in Japan after the May 1999 publication of "Ningen Maruwakari no Dobutsu Uranai (Human Nature Through Animal Fortunetelling)." The colorful, pocket-size book weds elements of Chinese and Western astrology to categorize individuals, based on their year and date of birth, into 12 creature types: elephant, cheetah, tiger, raccoon dog, monkey, black leopard, sheep, koala, lion, wolf, deer or winged horse.
Once readers have determined their animal, they can learn all about their type's distinguishing characteristics and proclivities of the soul, find out which other types are likely to be their friends, lovers or foes, then top it off by reading about the beastly sides of film stars, pop stars, sports figures and other celebrities.