Fukubukuro, or Lucky/Mystery Bag...the idea itself leads me to reminisce about that phrase made famous by Clint Eastwood(Dirty Harry, 1971). If I had to compare it to anything remotely similar here in the States, I would say it's like Black Friday. With all the excitement and long lines of having to wait for items at a major discount. The only catch, you've no idea what you're purchasing. Hence the lucky or mystery involved in each bag. However, have no fear for those unwilling to test their luck. Most bags and their contents will be directly associated with each merchant and the products they sell/produce. So, you have some idea of what the contents are and you'll most likely go to the retailers you frequent most and try to get something for quite a deal.
"Fukubukuro (福袋, lucky bag, mystery bag?) is a Japanese New Year's Day custom where merchants make grab bags filled with unknown random contents and sell them for a substantial discount, usually 50% or more off the list price of the items contained within. The low prices are usually done to attract customers to shop at that store during the new year. The term is formed from Japanese fuku (福, good fortune/luck) and fukuro (袋, bag). The change of fukuro to bukuro is the phenomenon known as rendaku. Fukubukuro usually are snapped up quickly by eager customers, with some stores having long lines snake around city blocks hours before the store opens on New Year's Day. Formerly, Fukubukuro were an easy way for stores to unload excess and unwanted merchandise from the previous year, due to a Japanese superstition that one must not start the New Year with unwanted trash from the previous year and start clean. Nowadays, Fukubukuro are pushed as a lavish New Year's event rather than a way for stores to get rid of excess merchandise."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukubukuro
A few examples I've come across this year, Gargamel was one I wish I had the budget and opportunity to have snagged one. (Apparently, these were so highly sought after they sold out in a matter of minutes!)
via Incase Japan 2010 Lucky Bag
via Hypebeast Bape Fukubukuro 'Mystery Bags'
via Comet Debris 2010 Comet Debris Lucky Bag
via Vinyl Pulse 2010 Gargamel Lucky Bag
"Fukubukuro (福袋, lucky bag, mystery bag?) is a Japanese New Year's Day custom where merchants make grab bags filled with unknown random contents and sell them for a substantial discount, usually 50% or more off the list price of the items contained within. The low prices are usually done to attract customers to shop at that store during the new year. The term is formed from Japanese fuku (福, good fortune/luck) and fukuro (袋, bag). The change of fukuro to bukuro is the phenomenon known as rendaku. Fukubukuro usually are snapped up quickly by eager customers, with some stores having long lines snake around city blocks hours before the store opens on New Year's Day. Formerly, Fukubukuro were an easy way for stores to unload excess and unwanted merchandise from the previous year, due to a Japanese superstition that one must not start the New Year with unwanted trash from the previous year and start clean. Nowadays, Fukubukuro are pushed as a lavish New Year's event rather than a way for stores to get rid of excess merchandise."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukubukuro
A few examples I've come across this year, Gargamel was one I wish I had the budget and opportunity to have snagged one. (Apparently, these were so highly sought after they sold out in a matter of minutes!)
via Vinyl Pulse 2010 Gargamel Lucky Bag
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