fetish; magical object
An object believed to possess supernatural powers or used in magical practices. Often appears in anthropological or occult contexts.
The tribe worshipped a fetish believed to bring rain.
博物館には世界各地の呪物が展示されている。
Fetishes from around the world are displayed in the museum.
fetishism
Compound of 呪 (ju, 'curse, spell') and 物 (butsu, 'thing, object'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is used in modern Japanese for ritual or magical objects.