noun
ghost leg lottery; ladder lottery
A random matching method where participants draw lines across a lattice of vertical lines to determine pairings or winners. Common in Japan for assigning roles or prizes.
席替えをあみだくじで決めた。
We decided the seat change by ghost leg lottery.
あみだくじを書いて、誰が掃除当番か決めよう。
Let's draw a ghost leg lottery and decide who's on cleaning duty.
General term for lottery or drawing lots; あみだくじ is a specific type using a lattice pattern.
From 阿弥陀 (Amida Buddha) + くじ (lottery). The radial lines of the lattice were thought to resemble the halo of Amida Buddha statues.