What is ‘Fukubukuro’, Japan’s New Year lucky shopping bags custom?
Team Udayavani, Jan 2, 2021, 3:10 PM IST
Fukubukuro or lucky bag is a tradition on New Year’s Day in Japan where merchants of all kinds pack bags with goodies and sell them at a significant discount.
The term fukubukuro is comprised of two Japanese words: fuku, meaning good fortune or luck and fukuro meaning bag
It is said that the practice began as a way to get rid of leftover merchandise, but soon became a highly anticipated end-of-year event. It was inspired by a Japanese superstition that merchants should not begin a new year with old merchandise.
Following which many shop owners followed suit and began developing innovative ideas of getting rid of old goods while still making a profit.
It resulted in creating the Fukubukuro bags, which merchants filled with last-season items or excess merchandise at substantial discounts.
While they all contain different items, everything inside the bag is much, much cheaper than its retail price. Most bags range from a few hundred to ten thousand yen.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Rs 20.14 cr unaccounted cash seized in poll run up in Karnataka
HC grants bail to man held for sexually assaulting ‘friend’ at Mumbai beach in 2021
Congress’s Kolar conundrum remains unsolved despite CM, DCM attempt to quell dissent
Mangaluru: Illegal slaughterhouse raided by police, Three arrested
‘No evidence of wrongdoing’: CBI closes UPA-era Air India aircraft leasing