Japanese spirit is still alive!

Each time I go to Japan I buy something small and inexpensive for souvenirs, and what’s better than Hello Kitty mobile phone straps?

Whatever else you see, she comes as my first choice - so, to me, Hello Kitty is still the queen.

This hello kitty one I bought for myself is wrapped in what looks like a pouch – or a sleeping bag and popping her little cute but expressionless face out of whichever it might be. As a Japanese, let me explain what it is. You’d love to hear it. (Behold!)

This is a Hello Kitty wrapped in straw. What’s the bloody hell for?

She’s hiding in Natto (that sticky, FRAGRANT fermented soy that we love to eat with the hot steamed rice, YUM.). Or, she might have already eaten all and then hiding in the empty wrapping. Whatever she's doing there, she must be damn happy all covered with its LUSCIOUS, IRRESISTIBLE smell.

There are many of her mates specially designed to promote different tourist places in Japan. One of her less lucky mates has to perform archery while she’s running on the top speed on her horseback. She’s promoting Kamakura and Yabusame.

And this particular Hello Kitty’s mission is to represent Mito (a town in Ibaraki prefecture that is well-known for Natto production.) and of course, Natto.

But now it's getting hard to stop at that. At the souvenir shops in Narita airport, I saw heaps of something so-Japan-so-quirky key holders and, mobile phone straps, which, is no use to many mobile phones on the market these days.

Mari-mo-kkori, is the growing strong rival (as seen below).

The name came from the combination of two words, Marimo (a kind of ball-shaped sea plant) and Mokkori (meaning male erection, you’ll know perfectly if you’ve read popular Japanese manga “City Hunter”)

Their predominant mission is to promote Hokkaido, the place famous for Marimo. Plus it’s multiplying its popularity at a high speed, thanks to the turbo-charged reproduction power.

Yep, everyone appears to be on a mission at Narita airport. 

Like this snugly kewpie wrapped in the lucky blanket, will bring you travel safety and luck if you get one.

Others found across Japan seem more relaxed, like this cute thing below. She’s the kewpie turned herself into…..Banana.

If you do a google search under “costume kewpie” you see images of her mates. If you already have some plastic kewpies you can even turn them into your own “costume kewpies”

Here are some images of original Marimokkori key chains and fabric dolls

 

This is one of the things about Japan that would never change no matter what happens.

Japanese ideosyncrasy is still alive and strong.

Cheers to Japan.