Picture the two strokes as the outline of red stage curtains, closing toward the center.
And what time do the curtains close? At EIGHT o’clock.
If you know the katakana ハ, it may also help to remember that the Japanese word for EIGHT is hachi — starting with the same sound.
The luckiest number?
Unlike the unlucky 四, 八 is seen as lucky in Japan and China because its strokes spread outward, symbolizing growth and prosperity.
At the same time, 八 can mean “many,” as in 八目 (many eyes). Ancient texts like the Nihon Shoki describe “eight clouds,” “eight wells,” and even “eight heads” in the tale of Susanoo and the giant serpent—using 八 to express a sense of abundance.