Polite to Stranger
Cultural · Religion
絵馬には、どのようにお願い事を書けばよろしいでしょうか？ — How should I write my wish on the ema plaque? (Cultural · Religion, Polite to Stranger, JLPT N4)
You
絵馬には、どのようにお願い事を書けばよろしいでしょうか？
えまには、どのようにおねがいごとをかけばよろしいでしょうか？
How should I write my wish on the ema plaque?
Romaji: Ema ni wa, dono you ni onegai goto o kakeba yoroshii deshou ka? / Reply Romaji: Hai, onamae to onegai naiyou o kuwashiku kaite, kakekudasai.
Reply
はい、お名前とお願い内容を詳しく書いて、お掛けください。
はい、おなまえとおねがいないようをくわしくかいて、おかけください。
Please write your name and the specifics of your wish, then hang it on the rack.
Gesture & etiquette
Hold the ema gently with both hands when receiving. Use the provided ink pen (often black). Write clearly and seriously — this is a sacred act, not a casual graffiti. Hang on the rack with both hands. A small bow afterward.
Ema (wooden votive plaques) at shrines and temples receive specific written wishes. Tradition holds that more specific wishes are more likely to be granted — write the full name, date, and detailed wish rather than vague 'good luck.' Write on the side opposite the painted image. Hang it on the designated rack with other ema. Many people return after the wish is fulfilled to give thanks.