
It’s not déjà vu, Mr. Sato; it’s just luck.
Every year of New Year’s “lucky bags,” or fukubukuro, brings a rollercoaster of ups and downs to the SoraNews24 team. We try to test out new ones every year, but we also find ourselves repeat customers of some shops (even if it’s disappointing).
Mr. Sato got relatively fortunate last year with a household electronics lucky bag from a shop in Akihabara called Tokka Bazaar, which only cost him 5,000 yen (45.79). He got a smart music lamp, a foot warmer, a calculator, an electric razor, and more!
▼ That’s worth well over 5,000 yen, especially if you’ve been dying to have some of this stuff.
This year, Mr. Sato decided to up the ante and buy a lucky bag worth 10,000 yen. He was pretty pleased with last year’s results, so he thought it was worth it.
Mr. Sato said he even checked to see if there was one worth 50,000 yen, but he was out of luck in that department. That may or may not have saved his wallet.
Well, aren’t you dying to see what’s inside? Mr. Sato was. He wasted no time in opening it, and his eye was immediately captivated by the large box inside. “This has to be good,” he thought. It could even be a laptop!
But when he excitedly took it out of the bag..
…
…
(ellipses intensify)
…
…
It was another foot warmer!
“It’s you again!?” Mr. Sato thought. After trusting the shop enough to double his paying price from last year, he felt betrayed.
Luckily, one of our writers was there to find the silver lining.
▼ “Look, they’re different colors!”
Oh well, time to move on. The bag also contained some other items of value, including this hair straightener.
The rest of the items weren’t that appealing; there was an FM transmitter for your car, but everything else was kind of random.
You probably don’t need this egg tray…
“I really don’t need this Moomin cup…” Mr. Sato thought.
Mr. Sato was out of luck this year, but he’s also looking forward to next year’s bag. Positive thoughts! Besides, you can get plenty of other exciting goods for less money in other stores…
Photos ©SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
[ Read in Japanese ]












Mr. Sato hunts for New Year’s lucky tablets in the wilderness of Akihabara
Mr. Sato goes back to the junk shops of Akihabara, where the real lucky bag action is
Mr. Sato gets his heart broken by a 2019 Akihabara Junk Shop Lucky Bag
Mr. Sato tries his luck with a lucky bag of mystery underwear
【Lucky Bag Roundup 2018】Akihabara Junk Shop Lucky Bags: Now with less junk!
Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors
One Piece Day 2026 brings new art, music, and new cast announcements
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Tamagotchi evolves into a ring for its 30th anniversary, preorders now open
Family Mart releases Famima convenience store products nationwide, but which ones are worth buying?
Flock to Tomarigi, the viral app that lets you perch in over 1,000 spots throughout Japan
Japan’s birth rate rose for the first half of the year for the first time in over a decade
Family Mart releases new Human Made Cup Noodle in Japan, with freebies for Nigo fans
Hobonichi unveils new 2027 planners, diaries and stationery with One Piece, Suica Penguin, Hello Kitty and a must-buy Mini Techo
7-Eleven Japan goes viral for chilled soba that’s “too salty to eat”
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Farewell Final Ceremony announced for Tokyo’s life-size Gundam statue, will stream live
Hikaru Utada sings new song in Shinkansen commercial for Japan’s Supreme Class cabins
Nike x One Piece collection brings Devil Fruits to sneakers and streetwear in Japan
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
【Lucky Bag Roundup 2017】Mr. Sato and his crew model 12 outfits from this year’s GAP fukubukuro
Akihabara capsule toy lucky bag is filled with cute characters and cool crap (literally)【Photos】
We bought a “Plastic Model Vegeta” lucky bag from Laox, got a model we really didn’t expect
Akihabara junk shop offers “Guaranteed iPad and other various items!!” lucky bag in 2022
The Akihabara ? Bag lucky bag may disappoint you if you yourself are a pretty weird guy
【2016 Lucky Bag Roundup】We buy a 3,000-yen, 5-kilo Lucky Bag of junk in Akihabara
The Thanko lucky bag overfloweth with interesting products
Mr. Sato divulges the contents of a 2015 Apple Store Lucky Bag–will he get a lame t-shirt again?
Demon Slayer lucky bag from Akihabara slays us with awesome anime merch
【Lucky Bag Roundup 2017】 We push our luck with a 3,000 yen “lucky bag” from Akihabara junk shop
Can our writer get lucky with a lucky bag of outlet sexy underwear?
Godzilla Store crushes New Year with king of the 2020 fukubukuro lucky bags
Get a piece of space with this lucky bag sold by a half-man, half-alien
Uniqlo Japan’s lucky bag creates chaos at Tokyo store
A look inside Amazon Japan’s lowest-rated lucky bag
Starbucks Japan’s New Year’s lucky bag is one of the most sought after fukubukuro of 2023