The Number 4

It was Friday the 13th. The number 4 is the unlucky number in Japan. There are two ways of saying 4, yon and shi . Shi also means "death". I have noticed that there is no parking space number 4 in some (most) parking lots. Hospitals don't have a number 4 doctor's office or patient's room. I have visited some hospitals where there is no number 4 on the elevator's panel. I wasn't able to get pictures of this. I'll try another time. Little Brother said his elementary school has a classroom number 4.

Sets of plates, bowls and cups are sold in fives not fours. Food items, too. Trays or boxes of five mochi or cakes are sold.

P.S. 4-17-07 I bought a tray of four fish at the grocery store. It was the first time I had seen four fish in a package!