Akai Ito - The legend of the red thread of destiny

Have you heard of the legend akai ito? A famous Asian belief widely spread in Japan that indicates two people are connected by the red thread of destiny. In this article, we will conduct an in-depth research into this legend and try to answer all the curiosities related to it.

The word akai ito [赤い糸] literally means red thread and applies to a belief/legend of Chinese origin, not Japanese. According to the legend, the gods tie an invisible red string around the ankles of men and women who are destined to be soulmates.

The red thread of destiny is not necessarily a literal red line. It’s as if it were a countdown timer to alert you at the exact moment you meet the perfect person. There are several differences between the Chinese legend and the Japanese legend that we will explore in this article.

Origin of the Akai Ito Legend

The legend says that the red thread can stretch or tie but will never break, no matter how much time passes, the two people will meet. In the Japanese version of the legend, we usually find the red thread tied to the pinky finger of the couple.

The legend originated in China during the Hokuso Period. It is believed that Yuè Xià Lǎorén, an ancient Lunar God of love and marriage, ties these threads at the birth of people. It is believed that the longer the thread, the farther and sadder the destined people are…

This legend spread throughout Asia, especially in Japan, and was fully incorporated into the culture of the country, making appearances in various animes, doramas, mangas, and movies. There is even a dorama of the same name, which I recommend checking out, as it addresses various topics that help reflect on life.

Akai Ito - The legend of the red thread of destiny

Differences between the Chinese and Japanese legends of Akai Ito

The legend is represented differently in Japan. As mentioned, instead of a cord around the ankle, in Japan it is a red thread tied to the pinky finger. The Japanese version of the legend shows a boy who says he will never marry until the God Xia Lao Yue says he is tied to a girl by a red thread.

Indignant about this, upon meeting the girl, he throws a stone at her and says he will never marry. The boy grows up and never falls in love until he meets a girl whose face he cannot see and marries her; when he asks why she covers her face, she says it is because in childhood a boy threw a stone at her and left a scar on her eyebrow.

In the Chinese version, a man is about to marry, and the God tells him that she is not the right person and points to a baby through the red thread. Angry, he sets fire to the baby’s house and marries the wrong person, leading to an unhappy life. The story repeats itself, and he ends up marrying the girl who survived.

Yubikiri Genman (指切り拳万)

It was from the Japanese legend that the famous promise Yubikiri Genman (指切り拳万) arose. That famous Japanese oath, in which two people making a promise link their pinky fingers and sing:

指切りげん: まんうそついたら針千本飲ます指切った。
Yubikiri gen: Ma n uso tsuitara hari Senbon nomasu yubi kitta.
Pinky promise: If I lie, I will swallow 1000 needles and cut off my finger.

指 – finger;
切り– To cut or a cut;
げんまん – Fist;
うそ – To lie, a lie;
うそついたら – If I lie;
針 – Needle;
針千本 – 1000 needles;
飲ます – To drink, to swallow;
指切った – I will cut off my finger;

The red thread of destiny can sometimes also be related to Reincarnation Romance, as seen in Darling in the Franxx. Sometimes the works that represent Akai Ito combine elements like first love, love at first sight, or forbidden love.

Animes, movies, and doramas related to Akai Ito

Both akai ito and yubikiri appear several times in animes, songs, and games. My most recent memory is in the second opening of oreimo. Now let’s recommend some works related to Akai Ito for you to watch:

Akai Ito – This dorama tells the story of Mei and Atsushi, who study at the same school and have their birthdays on the same day, each with their own life. In this work with the same name as the theme of the article, we will see how the red thread acts to unite these two people.

Koizora – Another dorama/movie based on a mobile game that became a great romantic success. Koizora tells the story of Mika, a young student who wants to fall in love as soon as she enters high school. One day, she starts receiving calls from a mysterious boy until she is won over, leading to some events that will make you cry.

Koi To Uso – An anime that strongly questions the bonds of akai ito, showing a modern Japan where the government chooses the spouse with whom a person will marry. How does a person feel if they are in love with someone else? Will the red thread of destiny change that?

Kimi no Nawa – A masterpiece of animation that captivated everyone in 2016/2017, managing to have action, comedy, and romance with beautiful animation and direction. The story initially shows two young people who randomly swap bodies. A must-see film!

Curiosities involving the red thread of destiny

In India, there is a red thread called Rakhi that indicates a bond between a brother and a sister and serves as a talisman of protection. In fact, this thread is sometimes used to kill romantic interests of others. It is a literal cord and is usually tied around the wrist instead of linking one person to another.

There are gestures involving the fingers that serve as an abbreviation. If we hold the pinky finger, we indicate a boyfriend; if we hold the thumb, we indicate a girlfriend. It is believed that this gesture originated because of the akai ito.

There are songs that mention or reference the legend of the red thread, such as Red Chord by Frames; Tip of My Tongue by The Civil Wars; L’espoir ~Mahô no Akai Ito~; Nankai Renai by Gumi; Dive Bar by The Tower and The Fool, and many others.

Even in the game Zelda: Skyward Sword, one of my favorite franchises, there is a small reference to Akai Ito. The main villain, Lord Ghirahim, says that Link is destined to meet him and that they are connected by a red thread of destiny. The villain even received a related attack in the game Hyrule Warriors.

There are movies and doramas that reference akai ito, such as Dolls, Touch, Hanamuko wa 18sai, Ashurajou no Hitomi, and many others. Various other animes like Black Clover, Tsuki ga Kirei, Ranma ½, Toradora, Inuyasha, Pokemon, Naruto, and many others also make references. Can you remember any?

When was the last time you encountered akai ito in a Japanese work? Leave your comments and, if possible, share with friends. Thank you and see you next time!