Feeling lucky? This time, you're certain, you just know the takarakuji is as good as yours.

So you go to what is widely acknowledged as the luckiest sales booth in town and join a line of other hopefuls. You've also researched precisely how to hit the jackpot. Full of excitement, you hand over your money, stash your tickets somewhere really safe -- and start counting the days until the draw.

But when that day dawns and -- yet again -- your lottery numbers are inexplicably not the lucky ones, it's back to dreaming about next time.