あみだくじ

NAME ORIGIN:

• Named after 阿弥陀仏(あみだぶつ) (Amitabha Buddha)
• The radiating lines behind Buddha images resemble the lottery's vertical lines
• Also called 阿弥陀籤(あみだくじ)

HOW IT WORKS:
1. Draw vertical parallel lines
2. Add random horizontal lines (rungs) connecting adjacent verticals
3. Assign items/prizes at the bottom
4. Participants choose a starting line at the top
5. Trace downward, turning at every horizontal line crossed
6. The endpoint determines the result

MATHEMATICAL PROPERTY:

• Each starting point leads to exactly one unique endpoint
• The process creates a random permutation

COMMON USES:

• 掃除(そうじ)当番(とうばん) (cleaning duties)
• 席替(せきが)え (seat assignments)
• 罰(ばつ)ゲーム決(き)め (deciding punishment games)
• 順番(じゅんばん)決(き)め (deciding order)

COLLOCATIONS:

• あみだくじを引(ひ)く (to draw a ladder lottery)
• あみだくじで決(き)める (to decide by ladder lottery)
• あみだくじを作(つく)る (to make a ladder lottery)