An Enjoyment for Children! Otoshidama and Pochibukuro

Hello, this is Payke writer, LINA!
New Year’s is just as exciting as Christmas for the children in Japan. That’s because in Japan, there’s a custom where the children are able to get otoshidama from their relatives when the whole family get together over the New Year’s holiday.

What is an Otoshidama?

To put it simply, otoshidama is money that adults give to children at the beginning of the New Year. The paper money is put in what is called a pochibukuro (small bag・envelope) and is then given to the children. The children would often use that money for toys, but it seems like there are more cases where the parents, caring about their child’s future, put that money into their child’s savings account.
This time, I want to introduce you to the small envelopes that carry the otoshidama, the pochibukuro!

The Various Shapes and Designs of the Pochibukuro

This here is the most basic type of pochibukuro. There were many designs of next year’s zodiac on them, the dog (in the Chinese zodiac, there are 12 kinds of animals and one animal is assigned each year in a specific order; this year was the year of the rooster, next year will be the year of the dog). A set of 3 pochibukuro is 300 yen (tax excluded).
The money of gratitude is folded and put inside the pochibukuro. The amount to be put inside is said to be somewhere around (the person’s age)×(500 yen).

This type of pochibukuro, where the money can fit when it’s folded in half, is recently becoming popular. Because it can be difficult to use the money if it has too many folds, this can be convenient♪ This set of 3 is priced at 200 yen (tax excluded).

This type of pochibukuro is where the money can be put inside without folding the bill. This type is popular for those who like to be neat and organized because some people go to the bank to get crisp new money for the children’s otoshidama. On this pochibukuro, there are drawings of congratulatory items that are crucial to the New Years holiday♡ This set of 3 is priced at 100 yen (tax excluded).

The Ever-Evolving Pochibukuro!

These ones here don’t look like a normal pochibukuro at first, but on the backside, there’s an envelope where money can be put.

It’s new and nice, isn’t it♪
The red one the left is a “daruma” which is known to be a tailsman of luck. The hip illustration style is very cute!
The boy on the right is the main character of a famous Japanese tale “Momotarō” (“Peach Boy”). The name originated from how the protagonist came out of a peach. By the way, the protagonist goes on to become friends with certain animals in order to fight the demons.
Each are a 5-piece set and they are priced at 100 yen (excluding tax).
What do you think? These pochibukuro can be bought at stationary stores, general goods stores, and at supermarkets during this time of year. This is a small ramble, but I recently went from being the one to receive to the one to give, and now, I just hope that the ones that receive a pochibukuro will be pleased. Please come and find a pochibukuro that you like when you come to Japan!