Stumbled upon a company with a toppled kadomatsu on my way back from lunch.

((((((°O°　))))) Oh my gosh! The poor kadomatsu must have gotten knocked down by the north wind that chose to blow with a vengeance on this day.

Kadomatsu is meant to be an auspicious symbol, and MUST be placed upright in pairs, on the entrance just before the New Year… A toppled kadomatsu sounds awfully inauspicious　(v__v`)

Its not as if a fallen Kadomatsu is going to mark the downfall of the company, but if any of the staffs were to witness this scene, they couldn’t be feeling better.

So the HERO decided to give a helping hand in restoring the toppled kadomatsu. The HERO in this subject is our boss (^__-)
Just a little helping hand, and that could probably save the company from a crisis
;+*(@`U`@)*+;

This year is certainly going to be a great year for our company too, all thanks to the “HEOIC” act from our boss!

It is Japanese culture to visit Shinto shrine during the New Year.
I paid mine on the 2nd day of the New Year.

Passing the snack shop on my way back, there I saw again, Lucky Bags lined up this time at the front of snack shop. They looks set to get customers!

Snacks Lucky Bags? Wow! Lucky Bags seems to be a trend, popping up everywhere…
“mister Dounut” started selling theirs before the New Year even begins.

If you are still trying to figure out what on earth is Japan’s Lucky Bag, they are bags that contain unknown random contents substantially worth more than their actual amount.
And of course I got mine which cost a mere 1,000yen per bag.

I had chosen mine by their weight, since the contents were hidden.
Want to know what are the contents?

Lucky Bags image

?

？

？

These are what I got!
How? How? Do you think they are worth 1,000yen??
I did a rough calculation and they are indeed worth more than I had paid for.

So would you consider getting a Lucky Bag for yourself?

Snacks, cookies, crackers

A city that doesn’t sleep, Tokyo is quiet in New year’s eve.
The bustle & hustle of Tokyo turns into a ghost town every year end, when everyone returns back to their hometown to celebrate New Year.
How I love the quiet side of Tokyo when the city can do with a rest　(@^-^@)

“Shimekazari” decorated on the door of my company.

Shimekazari will be put up latest by 30th-Dec until 7th-Jan so as to prevent any evils or misfortune from entering the house. Designs are different each year.

Doesn’t this look exquisite? Can you find the crane?

Shimekazari decorated at doors

And “mister Donut” joined in the promotion of “Fukubukuro” (lucky bag) (-o- ;;)

Fukubukuro are lucky bags sold only on New Year. They contained unknown random contents that is substantially worth more than their actual amount.

Fukubukuro on items other than fashion is beyond my imagination (6.6)?
For just a MERE 2,000yen mister Donut’s lucky bag comes with next snoopy goodies: 20donuts/pies + 2 food containers + ear hoodie + Calendar + Eco bag + Hand Towel.

Wow! An unbelievable bargain　d(^o^)b

mister Donut's fukubukuro

mister Donut continues on the challenge journey to new products .
Look at the poster! Cream donuts and twisty pies!
I am just drooling by looking at the poster.

Note: I don’t get any advertisement fees from Mister Donut (( (- -*)(*- -) ))

mister Dount's new products

My choice of mirror rice cake for this choice — the Golden SNAKE.
According to the astrology of 12 Zodiac animals, next year is the Snake year.

After some hesitation between the choice of “Japanese beckoning cat” or “Snake”, I opted for the snake, since the choice of beckoning cat that is believed to bring good luck didn’t win me the lottery last year (v__v`)

I will placed my luck on the snake this time round (*^-^*)v

Japanese style kid’s wear, jinbei as Christmas present for my soon to be 3 years nephew. Few would probably thought of buying summer wear in the middle of winter season. So its a great bargain to get these as shops are marking down the prices to clear stocks… The merit of staying in a tropical island (*^-^*)

I love the colorful jinbei of course, but who can resist those wooden clogs?
I can’t wait to see my nephew puts them on.

And a reminder that today is 21st-Dec, if it slips your mind.
According to Mayan calender, today is the doomsday.
With few more hours to go, we will be welcoming 22nd-Dec in Tokyo.
I had better hurry up to update the blog before doomsday (*^-`)v

I have a great passion for J-pop musics.
There is something in the music that deeply touches the very soul and heart.
And what’s really amazing is that you don’t get sick with the music not even decades down the road. Also, you don’t have to understand Japanese language to like J-pop.

J-pop band ,”Monkey Majik” is my latest addiction.
Didn’t know the group until they were featured in one of the news program, doing charity shows to help reconstruct the stricken areas, that the 3.11 Tohoku earthquake brought about 2.5 years ago.

What caught my attention was at first, the group’s formation.
A four members group, made up of two Canadian brothers and two Japanese (@o@)
They are often being referred to as the “hybrid band”.
And did it strike you dumbfounded to know that the Canadian brothers are the vocalists!? They sing and speak really fluent Japanese though.

The group actually started out from Year 2000 and had since released many famous songs. So sorry that “ME”, the country pumpkin has totally been ignorant about it, all this while m(_ _)m

What’s the question? Why I love “Monkey Majik”?
Ok,,, I love the way in how they sing in Japanese with a western-like feel, something very new, very pop, yet sounds very pleasant to the ear 　(*,, ^-^)
Love how their voice has a calming and soothing effect that works like a relaxant for me (^_-)v
In general, their music have the power to touch and move me to tears, giving me hope and courage at the same time.

“Headlight” is the first song of theirs that I listened to that moved me instantly. I had the YouTube embedded too if you would take time to listen to it.