Izumi Eriko, 46
Tarot Card Reader from Kumamoto
How does tarot work?
There are 78 cards but we only use 22. There are many ways to tell a fortune. The most popular way is to arrange the cards in a Celtic cross. The place where the card appears has significance in the reading. A tarot reader can have her own method; I put the cards in a straight line when using a small space like this. After that you just turn them over and read them. The oldest tarot cards are from Egypt, though there are cards from India as well.But how are the cards able to tell the future?
We can see this world, but there’s a world we can’t see. Happiness, sadness, feelings-those things are everywhere. The cards receive messages from the other world. At first I learn the meaning for each card. For example, “The World” card has a good meaning, but sometimes I get a bad feeling from the card.Can anyone become a tarot card reader, or do you need talent?
Talent matters. Some people can’t do it. I bought a book and studied on my own. The more you do it, the more you learn; it’s quite deep. My mom was a good fortuneteller. She told me, “You must be a fortuneteller.” I was interested but didn’t think I could do it, but after I turned 30 I decided to try. My mom practiced fortunetelling using regular playing cards.As we talked a high school girl came and asked if she’d find a boyfriend. After consulting the cards, Eriko told her, “Yes, there was a boyfriend card.” She went on to explain that he would be from a different school and that the girl should study harder. If she does, she will have a good year.
How much money do you make?
After about five hours I’m doing well if I get about ¥3,000. I’m not doing this to make money, so I only charge ¥500, ¥300 for students. Others may charge ¥3,000. Also I’m an artist and I sell some paintings, which are hanging in a local coffeeshop.gyokozai (a kind of salt-based powder) until it becomes thicker. After that it’s left in the water for about an hour; then I package and put the tofu in the refrigerator. My older brother makes the atsuage and abura-age (fried) tofu and then delivers it. We also make goma (sesame) tofu. I spend the afternoon cleaning and straightening up. I work until 7:30pm.the end
This interview was originally published in Kansai Time Out magazine.