Yes, this sounds like a prayer.....thing (not sure what to call it). We still have a small one (about 1 1/2" x 3") from when we lived in Japan nearly 30 years ago. Typically you'd see these hanging from the rear view mirror. There was a small temple over the hill from where we lived where they would have occasional "car blessings"; you bring your new car in to get some good mojo applied to it.
i think the closest thing it could be called is a charm. pretty much a blessing in paper form that is ment to protect what it is attached to. car/truck/house etc. but of course they have different ones for different things.
what a cool thread!!! Here is my list to date (in order of discovery): 1. One, wire wheel with all the bristles burned off (location: glove box) 2. One, 1 Yen coin (Location: defoger vent on dash, its still there, cant get it out) 3. One, small 2-3oz clear plastic jug, similar in shape to an 8oz sunny D bottle, only smaller (Location: under passenger seat) 4. One, piece of white chalk with yellow plastic chalk holder (Location: under driver's seat in rear near seatback) 5. One, cotton grey/white sock (like the sock monkey sock w/ out the red heal)(Location: in the pocket on the drivers side seat back) <-- Hope no one had "turned Japanese" with that one! 6. One mini road flare (Location: Passenger Boot)
When I brought my Sambar home and began cleaning it up I heard something rattling around in the ash tray. I opened it up and found the cigarette lighter--along with a pack of rolling papers and a couple of roaches. I'm glad I discovered them--it would have been fun explaining to someone else what a minister was doing with that stuff...
Ditto on the charm. I recently found I one along with 3 Coins. Truck also had a pair of pliairs , and a nice seat cushion.