Did you know?: Ema, plaques used as prayers and wishes in Shinto shrines

You may have noticed small wooden plaques with drawings of horses and Japanese characters hanging in the gardens of Shinto Shrines. These “ema,” or horse icons, are used as prayers or wishes for good luck in certain endeavors. Japanese believe that their wishes and prayers will come true if they write them on these plaques and hang them as  offerings to the Shinto gods.