New Year's Day is the most of import Japanese holiday, where many "firsts" are celebrated. Some of these especial firsts include; first prayer, offset sunrise, too offset ...SALE! The Japanese phenomenon known every bit fukubukuro, (or "lucky/happy bag"), entails heading to a store on Jan 1-3 too buying a handbag amongst unknown contents for a laid price. The alone guarantee is that the handbag volition live worth to a greater extent than than yous paid, sometimes several times more, but it's a gamble. Count me in!
We got an early on start on New Year's Day, too headed to the mall virtually thirty minutes prior to opening. Good affair too, every bit the parking lot was filling upwards fast.
The describe of piece of employment was already long too getting longer past times the minute, I approximate yous could liken it to Black Fri shopping inward the States. And it was COLD!
At to the lowest degree nosotros had a corking persuasion of Mt. Fuji!
Finally, at the stroke of 8:00 am, the mall doors opened. Then an orderly describe of piece of employment of people were sprinting through the mall, (orderly, of course) to whichever store they wanted to endeavor first. I was laughing out loud, this may receive got been my favorite part!
The girls too I had already discussed, at length, which stores nosotros wanted to select. We honey a certain store that sells Japanese goods, too nosotros planned to larn at that topographic point first. This is where I made my offset rookie mistake. Some stores volition demo yous the contents of the bag, therefore yous tin give the axe create upwards one's heed if yous desire it or not. This detail store had a display of what was inward the bag, but I was therefore caught upwards inward the minute too the excitement, I didn't genuinely report it carefully, I but bought it. More on that later....
Our offset lucky handbag of the year!
Many stores had a huge line.
Starbucks in all probability had the longest line. It looked similar most people headed at that topographic point offset (blurry picture, but yous larn the idea).
The side past times side predetermined store was Francfranc, a genuinely cute housewares store that I like. The box itself was therefore cute, I couldn't resist. There was a white box titled "Urban Chic", too a pinkish box titled "Flourish". Hmmm, the selection but got to a greater extent than difficult...
Alas, the girl's made me larn the pinkish box, therefore my friend Merri chose the white box. Which would receive got the best contents?
Each store alone sells a express number of bags, adding farther pressure level to the situation. You can't intend it over every bit good long, or yous endangerment your handbag selling out. This genuinely created an atmosphere of urgency! This was the kitchen store, too I but couldn't decide, until nosotros overheard that at that topographic point was a frying pan inside. I needed a novel i anyway, so, why not?!
The Body Shop had a clear display of the handbag contents, too it was a rattling practiced deal. Some of the stores did that, but amongst most, yous were definitely rolling the dice. I would honey to know which stores sold more, the displayed contents or the surprise bag? I would genuinely bet on the surprise bag!
Most of the subdivision stores had dissimilar brands sponsor a bag, therefore they had many dissimilar tables laid up, amongst many dissimilar toll points. It is said that fukubukuro may live a means of helping the stores sell through excess merchandise, because some other Japanese superstition is "not to start off the novel year with final years trash." (Most Japanese fifty-fifty thoroughly build clean too organize their homes this fourth dimension of year, for the same reason.)
One final purchase for the girls, they got to choose the Y500 ($5) bag at their favorite store, Kiddyland.
Whew! Here is our haul. Even but hearing the yell "happy bag" makes me happy. The anticipation of seeing the contents, was but similar Christmas morning!
We found a tabular array inward the nutrient courtroom too started opening, along amongst everyone else! The mood was rattling festive, amongst everyone anxious to hold off over their treasures.
The girls handbag contained LOTS of pilus accessories. This was definitely worth to a greater extent than than the $5 price. But, pathetic Ella wasn't super excited amongst this pick, because she has a shorter hairstyle. And therefore it goes, amongst gambling, I suppose. And on to my bags...
Remember my first, hurried purchase from the Japanese store? Well, I am immediately the proud possessor of a wintertime kimono jacket! Also, a pocket tissue case, some fancy locally handmade blast smooth (in brownish too white), smooth remover, a rattling soft mitt towel (?, withal haven't figured out it's use) too the best business office was the cute hounds molar sail bag. I paid Y5000 (about $42 inward today's telephone substitution rate) too it's definitely worth to a greater extent than than that, but is this materials I need? That's the question.
Next, my darling pinkish box from Francfranc had a very interesting mix of stuff. Here goes; a French macaroon pillow, a floral apron too matching hot pad, a floral mitt towel, a rose fragrance room spray, one tea loving cup with two plates, too 2 floral forks too spoons, which the girls genuinely LOVE! Again, this is non materials I would genuinely purchase if I walked inward to the store amongst Y5000 ($42) on a regular day. (And, no Merri's "Urban Chic" box was non much improve than my "Flourish" box. Haha!)
And lastly, my best grade of the solar daytime was at the kitchen store. It was a Y3000 ($24) handbag too I got a squeamish frying pan, spatula, utensil holder, a minor draining/roasting pan, a Sus scrofa shaped microwave lid, too 2 fish scrubber sponges. This was the jackpot for me, every bit I volition genuinely purpose all of this stuff!
And therefore it goes amongst gambling, yous win some, yous lose some. Did I build some rookie mistakes? Yes. Did I receive got some buyers remorse? Yes. Would I do it again? Absolutely!!!
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