This study explores the potential of age-based connections in an increasingly individualized and diverse society. Focusing on “eto-en” (zodiac ties) formed through the Japanese zodiac, which operates on a 12-year cycle, the study examines the theoretical framework, case studies, and possible applications of such connections.
Eto-en are characterized as “involuntary yet expansive” connections that form virtual ties between people of different ages who share the same zodiac sign, regardless of their proximity in the real world.
The study presents the “zodiac relationship diagram” as a method of visualizing these networks and analyzes opportunities for their formation through fieldwork on communal zodiac year celebrations in Yomitan (Okinawa Island) and Karimata (Miyako Island). Looking to the future, the study considers the applicability of eto-en beyond traditional blood- and place-based communities to include workplaces, educational institutions, and online communities. Additionally, the study suggests future investigations into other formation contexts, such as those related to Mamori-Honzon folk practices.
