Souvenir from Japan

Posted January 6th, 2009 in Japan 6 Comments »

These are souvenir we got from Japan.  Because it was around New Year, there’re so many New Year products in the shops.  The top right things are like Christmas wreath (called shimenawa): a decoration for Japanese New Year’s Day.  (We got them from Seria 100 yen shop)  At the centre there are few round-red ornaments; they are called daruma.  Daruma are round Japanese wish dolls with mustache and beard, but no arms or legs.  The eyes only contain the color white. Using black ink, one fills in a single circular eye while thinking of a wish. Should the wish later come true, the second eye is filled in.  On the photos there are few daruma with 2 eyes already; they are just daruma-looking toys.  The real daruma is the one with no black eye balls.

We also got some Japanese thong sandals, kokeshi (Japanese wooden doll), doraemon backpack, hachiemon (a character of Kansai Telecasting Corporation) cup, etc…

For my office, I bought this Osaka flavor cracker. (because everyone in the office is from Tokyo side)  These crackers are supposed to taste like okonomiyaki, a typical Osaka food, and they come with mayonnaise and special Okonomiyaki sauce in the box!  You can let your friends enjoy Osaka food without taking them to Osaka …  funny stuff 🙂

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6 Comments on “Souvenir from Japan”

  1. 1 Tokyo Five said at 10:18 pm on January 6th, 2009:

    I saw those お正月 goods at ￥100 Shop…I especially remember the funny Daruma with his two already painted on. 🙂

    You bought zori. Great!

    When I visited America a few years ago, I gave Hanya key-holder to my friend as a Japanese おみやげ.

  2. 2 umepontarou said at 9:44 am on January 7th, 2009:

    Those zori (Japanese thong sandals) are actually from my dad. He bought those when it was summer in Japan, and gave to me on this 里帰り (homecoming) 🙂
    They are nice gifts as it’s summer here now.

    >I gave Hanya key-holder to my friend
    You mean Hannya?? Didn’t your friend get scared??

  3. 3 Tokyo Five said at 8:39 pm on January 7th, 2009:

    Oh yes, “hannya” .
    My friend couldn’t believe it was for good luck.

  4. 4 umepontarou said at 9:57 pm on January 7th, 2009:

    Tokyo5
    Hehehe…
    There are Hannya and Oni masks in my grandparents’ house, and I was so scared by them when I was little:p
    I actually did not know that Hannya is for good luck!

  5. 5 Ross said at 7:15 pm on January 9th, 2009:

    Too bad you can’t get pre packaged takoyaki.. OR CAN YOU?

  6. 6 umepontarou said at 10:11 pm on January 9th, 2009:

    Ross
    Thanks for your comment:)

    No, I don’t think so. Australia is very strict on their border, especially about food. Takoyaki got eggs in the dough so it must be prohibited food.
    I hope I could :p

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