Japanese number superstition

In Japan the numbers 4 and 9 are considered unlucky. The way the word for '4' is pronounced is apparently similar to the way the word for 'death' sounds. Meanwhile, the word 9 also sounds like a word that describes a form of suffering.

Certainly for the number 4, this has been notably skipped in Japanese camera model designations, although it's a bit inconsistent. Canon skipped from Powershot G3 to G5 models, omitting the 'G4', for example. But Canon was quite happy to produced the EOS 40D, 400D and 450D models. Olympus moved its flagship DSLR from E-3 to E-5, skipping 'E-4'. Then again Olympus used the number 4 in its E-400, E-410, E-420 and E450 DSLR camera model numbers. Fujifilm went from its S3 Pro DSLR straight to the S5 Pro - there was no 'S4 Pro'.

In fact I'm struggling to think of an important Japanese camera model name that is based around the number '4'. Can you think of any?

Oh, and if you add the two unlucky Japanese numbers of 4 and 9 together, what do you get?

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7 comments

#5

Ian commented

10-02-12, 11:30 AM

Editing a comment
Hi Yoshi, this blog post was before the Nikon D4 launch and I knew the name but was restricted by the non-disclosure embargo until the name was made public. I was very surprised that Nikon was using the 4 in D4. I also thought it interesting that if you add the unlucky numbers in Japanese - 4+9 = 13, and of course 13 is considered unlucky in the West :) Thanks for the clarification of 40 and 400, etc.!
#6

Jamie Harrison commented

30-03-12, 12:25 PM

Editing a comment
There's no surprise in the D4 - Nikon had the S4 and the F4. Olympus did the OM4, and Yashica had the T4.
:)
#7

Ian commented

30-03-12, 12:29 PM

Editing a comment
Indeed - it seems that some camera project managers in Japan are more superstitious than others! Thanks Jamie.

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Japanese number superstition

Japanese number superstition