good fortune, japanese-style

Hello, all! 

For my Mother's Day festivities, some might say I had modest wishes. 

In fact, all I really wanted was to go to the Japanese dollar store.  I'm so easy.

I was looking for a "lucky cat," or maneki neko, convinced that this is what our home required to foster that "good fortune" vibe we're in need of.   Their selection wasn't great, but I did pick up the larger one above, who was soon joined (via small hands) by the tiny lucky cat bead, complete with frosty dessert drink.

I've been reading up on maneki neko, and was surprised to learn that it's a fairly old tradition in Japan.  Yay!  I thought it was mostly touristy junk (which, don't get me wrong, is fine by me--I was just surprised, is all).   It's long been one of my favorite symbols, and as an additional push to the lucky cat forces, I wore my favorite t-shirt yesterday:

Love it, wrinkles and all.

Was that all I got at the Japanese dollar store?  Heavens, no!  I also picked up such essentials as these Richard Scarry-esque erasers whose clothes come off (tell me, would you have passed these up?):

(I thought not.)

And, prize of prizes! Moomin candy!  I could not believe my good fortune (hey, it works!)--Moomin items are terribly hard to come by in the States, but leave it to the Japanese to come through.  Totally made my trip worth it, even on Mother's Day:

 

I've not idea what I'm going to do with them, but they sure do make me happy.  

Let's see, what else?  Oh, yes!  A mug with one of those quintessentially Japanese-English phrases on it, which I felt could only be filled with children's chopsticks in rainbow colors:

And finally, not from the dollar store, but still Japanese in origin, our koi nobori arrived yesterday, and found a place to shine:

Of course, it is supposed to hang outside, and eventually will, but it was just so beautiful that, for now, I hung it in Olivia's schoolroom...

  "...Vigorous, feisty, over-coming obstacles," indeed.
  

Thanks for reading, my friends!  I hope you have a beautiful day.

xoxox.

Comments

[Olivia]

Hehe! Great finds! I got the Moomin candy tins at my local Japanese dollar store. I stocked up, cos I really love Moomin. I know with at least one of them, I'm going to turn it into a pinhole camera :)

-Olivia

[Tiffany Harvey]

Awesome! I wish I could find a Japanese dollar store around here. Even the Asian market is an hour away! I would totally ask for that for Mother's Day too.

Oh ~ and the large kanji on the shirt says "Tokyo" and the red stamp by his collar is "Record". Not sure about the rest!

[Athena]

Oh! If I had a Japanese dollar store near me I would not have any dollars left!
Can you tell me where you bought your shoes? I love them!

[Jennifer Ladd]

You have a Japanese Dollar Store nearby?!?! I have just reached a new level of envy!

[Amy Hanson]

I know, I know! The Japanese dollar store is the best thing since sunlight. It's actually called Daiso, and it's in the part of town that services the Asian-American community here in San Diego. Maybe there's one in your town? Who knows?!

Athena, thank you for the shoe love. They are by Born (with the line through the 'o') and I got them last year from a catalog. I think I'm going to be buried in them someday. And my lucky cat shirt. The whole outfit really. It's not fashion, but it's me.
xoxo!

[Diandra Mae]

I love that the big Sushi Cat is supposed to protect your home, and the little one is inviting money and good fortune. Definitely reflects your priorities, I think. :)

[Cindy]

My husband and I love, love, love moomin! He grew up with the books and introduced me to them. I can't wait until we can read them to our daughter. We are always bugging swedish relatives to send up moomin stuff since we can find none here. I live in San Diego, like you. Where is there a Japanese dollar store?? I must go purchase some of those candies (and maybe the erasers!)! Thanks!

[Amy Hanson]

Hi, Cindy! The store is on Balboa Ave. just west of highway 163. It's not called Daiso (just to make it more confusing) it's called Marukai Value Plus (there are 3 related Japanese stores in the one parking lot, on the south side of Balboa)...Down the street there is also a store called Mitsuwa, which is where I have purchased all my Japanese craft books...there's a bookstore, a market and a resteraunt in there--total Japanese shopping heaven! Have fun!!!

[Cindy]

Thanks so much! I haven't been in Marukai, but I love Mitsuwa! I can't wait to go!

[Riki Zarris]

Love your koi windsock. It is probably best to keep it inside. I got one at a Japanese store in DC. It looked lovely outside but had faded miserably in less than 6 months.

[Shawndra]

I lived 4 years in Japan and my first year there I was a regular at the Daiso's. I miss them terribly. I never thought to look here in the US for such a store. Ill have to look it up. thanks.

[The Hausfrau]

Yeah, you definitely got a good deal on the Moomin candies!