'Fortune-Teller' Provides for Him that Trusts

*Hiragana Times CIA(Cynically Insulting Agency)

In Japan fortune-telling is undergoing a boom, especially among women. Nearly every TV station broadcasts the fortune of the day along with the morning weather forecast, and there are regular fortune-telling programs as well. Almost all womens magazines have a fortune-telling section, and feature stories about fortune-telling are available nearly every month. Hiragana Times CIA was successful in getting the inside story about fortune-telling from a famous female fortune-teller on the condition that she remains anonymous.

CIA: There are various kinds of fortune-telling, including astrology, blood-types, palm reading, telling a person's fortune on the basis of his or her name and reading a person's fortune on the basis of directional relationships. Among these, why have you selected tarot?

Teller: Clients who have worries are restless every day. My fortune-telling will end if I use astrology or blood-types, as those facts don't change. In that regard, by playing tarot cards, I can have clients visit for days on end. In short, I can easily create repeat customers who provide me with continuous profits. Any fortune-telling is okay with me as long as profit is guaranteed.

CIA: I don't see the scientific evidence in fortune-telling. What do you think about this?

Teller: It's a silly question. It doesn't matter for us. It is more important for fortune-tellers to be trusted by clients and turn them into repeat customers. To achieve this purpose, the first greeting I make to clients is critical. In my case, I start with a question such as, "There must be a convenience store near your house, right?" Not surprisingly they will say with wide open eyes, "Yes, but how did you know that?" Almost 100 percent of clients respond "yes" to this question. In fact, it is a no-brainer. As you know, there are convenience stores everywhere in Japan. However, clients with worries on their mind don't notice that trick and look at me with awe. Then I can lead them anyway I like as long as they trust me.

CIA: How do you answer if they say that no convenience stores are near their house?

Teller: You can reply this way: "You are lucky. If there was one you would have become involved in a major problem." This kind talk is found also in rakugo (a Japanese comic storyteller). The generation raised by the one-way information provided on TV is poor in communication. Like a counselor, it is the fortune-teller's job to listen to what clients say.

CIA: What practical advice do you offer them?

Teller: Most consultation is about matters of love from women. From their dialogue, I can guess what kind of advice they are expecting from me. For instance, if I am asked "Does he still love me?" I will answer this way: "Don't worry! He still loves you. It's just that he's not good at communication, so his heart doesn't reach you." Hearing this advice she goes home with peace of mind. However, the following day she anxiously returns to see me and asks, "He cancelled the date. He doesn't love me anymore, does he?" I repeatedly give her sweet talk to ease her mind, even if I thought their love was gone. Clients want to hear the words so they can feel secure. It is also convenient for me to do so as I can continuously receive the consultation fee.

CIA: Isn't that the same thing as a doctor who extends the life of dying patients with injections and medicines? Don''t you have a guilty conscience?

Teller: Fortune-tellers are also human and it always makes us concerned, but we justify ourselves by assuming that we are doing the same deed as a doctor who gives patients with incurable cancer hope to live, even though it's not telling the truth. Even if it's a lie, the patients have peace of mind as long as they believe.

CIA: What are the low points about the fortune-telling business?

Teller: Being engaged in this business, my clients tell me how they were betrayed every day, just as we recognize our own tricks in our advice. So, we come not to trust people. I'm afraid of becoming unable to trust anyone and of ending my life in isolation. It is harder than anything else that I can't find anybody that I can consult with about my lonely heart.

*Hiragana Times CIA(Cynically Insulting Agency)

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