Founded in the 8th century, Katsuo-ji Temple has long been known as a "temple of victory" and a "temple of winning luck," and has been widely worshipped by farmers and merchants as well as the champions of the era, such as the Minamoto, Ashikaga, Toyotomi, and Tokugawa clans.
Today, the temple is crowded with worshippers from Japan and abroad who seek "winning luck" in all aspects of life, including work, business, examinations, illness, sports, arts, elections, interpersonal relationships, and romance.
Many visitors to Katsuo-ji Temple make a wish on the "Kachi-Daruma", which can only be received at Katsuo-ji Temple, with its distinctive design of a large "Kachi" written on the belly.
It is the custom at Katsuo-ji to put one eye in when making a wish, and when the wish is fulfilled, to put the other eye in and report it to the temple for dedication.