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From practice to appraisal session!
"Waseda University Fortune Telling Research Club"

Karen Yokoyama, 3rd year, School of Political Science and Economics

I spoke about the use of fortune telling at the Korean speech contest on campus.

Founded in 2020, Waseda University Fortune Telling Research Club (hereinafter referred to as Uraken) is a general fortune telling student club brings together members who are studying various types of fortune telling. We see fortune telling as "hints for living a good life" and aim to familiarize ourselves with fortune telling while having fun. The charm of this student club is that it has a wide range of members, from beginners to experienced people, and operates in a friendly and homely atmosphere.

Although the term "fortune telling" is used in general terms, there are many different types of fortune telling in the world.

- Fortune telling using coincidences: Tarot cards, Lenormand cards, oracle cards, I Ching, geomancy, etc.
・Fortune telling using unchanging information (※): Western astrology, Four Pillars of Destiny, Ziwei Doushuu, Mayan calendar fortune telling, etc.
・Fortune telling using visual information: palmistry, etc.

* Date of birth, time, place, etc.

Uraken's activities center around tarot readings, and allow you to experience a variety of these types of fortune telling.

This time, we will introduce tarot fortune-telling practice as an example of our activities. You may be able to study the meaning of each card and spreads (how to arrange the cards) by yourself. However, learning how to speak and communicate when you are actually in front of someone is also very important in honing your fortune-telling skills. Therefore, at Uraken, we offer "pair fortune-telling" where you practice putting into practice the fortune-telling techniques you have learned.

A typical day in the club. The students practice fortune-telling in pairs.

In addition, we value the practice and interaction that is only possible in student club activities, such as having members simultaneously read fortunes on the same topic and compare the results.

In addition, we hold an appraisal session at Waseda Festival every year as a place to put into practice the fortune-telling techniques we have learned. It is a good opportunity for members to improve their skills and motivation. We also hold appraisal sessions at new student welcome events and the Waseda Earth Thanksgiving Festival, as well as student club trips once or twice a year, and we have other fun and fulfilling activities.

Photo on the left: The appraisal session at Waseda Festival 2023. It is so popular that there are long lines every year.
Photo on the right: During the spring training camp in March 2025, we visited the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in Tsukuba.

I feel that my outlook on daily life has broadened since I started fortune telling. I've come to think that what's important is not "whether the fortune telling result is right or wrong" but "how I can use the result." If you take the fortune telling result as a hint or possibility for the content of the fortune telling, you can see things from a different perspective than usual.

If you want to see the wider world through fortune telling, or if you're even slightly interested, why not come and have some fun with us?

[Official student club Information]
◆ student club name: Waseda University Fortune Telling Research Club
◆ Group classification: Clubs
◆ Year student club was founded: 2020
◆ Genre: hobby
◆ Activity date and time: Once a week on Tuesdays from 17:00 to 19:30
◆ Number of participants: About 25 people
◆ Location: Waseda University Student Center
◆Instagram: @waseda_uraken
◆ X: @⁡Waseda_Uraken