
The opinions expressed in this lucky bag are the store’s personal views and don’t reflect those of our organization.
Well, it’s certainly been an excruciatingly long New Year season around our offices, as our writers P.K. Sanjun and Ahiruneko were sent seven fukubukuro lucky bags from the novelty goods chain Village Vanguard. Although there were some highlights, they were largely outweighed by some soul-crushing items to receive.
There are only two bags left, however, so the end of this long, dark tunnel filled with hot sandwich makers and calculators is drawing near. This time, Ahiruneko is set to open the Yellow Lucky Bag that sells for 3,850 yen (US$24). After being pleasantly surprised by the Gold bag, he was utterly filled with despair by the sheer uselessness of the Purple bag.
Will this bag break the deadlock? Let’s FAFO…
The image of a man with his pants around his ankles certainly didn’t bode well for this haul, but the true standout item had to be the cushion. At first, Ahiruneko thought it was shaped like a Heineken bottle cap, but upon closer inspection, it was just full of misspelled nonsense. It also appeared a little worn and dirty, as if it were snatched from someone’s basement rather than an actual retail item.
Then there was a popcorn box that’s meant to hold… popcorn? There was no label or explanation with it, so our writer had no idea what to do with it.
And there was a notepad with the design of a $1,000,000 bill on the front, which is legal tender in the United States of Party.
This was followed by a bottle opener shaped like a slice of pizza. Finally, an end to the tyranny of bottle openers shaped like bottle openers.
Ahiruneko also got some bag clips shaped like French fries. This was actually a cute idea in concept, but the clips seemed too short to fit across most bags.
However, what really sent the Yellow Lucky Bag into the depths of despair was the toilet putting green, which allows you to get in a quick nine while on the crapper.
Nothing about it looks regulation, and there isn’t really much challenge in attempting a 12-inch putt on flat ground. If this is something you feel the need to practice on a regular basis, then golf might not be the game for you.
But there was a much bigger concern about this for Ahiruneko. A lot of Village Vanguard lucky bags tend to have a theme, like everything in the Purple Lucky Bag being large or everything in the Blue Lucky Bag being related to games. It would seem the theme of the Yellow Lucky Bag was the United States of America, with its fast food, currency, and beer. These seemed to be things that exemplified American culture, and, according to Village Vanguard, that culture also includes playing with your balls while dropping a deuce.
Japan is already in Dutch with China these days, and making an enemy of the States by implying they’re a bunch of imported-beer-drinking toilet golfers certainly won’t help. He could just imagine the president seeing this on social media while putting around on the toilet, wigging out, and raising tariffs on our country by a gajillion percent.
▼ Luck Bag Verdict: Undiplomatically Bad
But on the bright side, this was Ahiruneko’s last Village Vanguard bag of the year, so he breathed a sigh of relief. Only one remains for P.K. to open. Will the novelty goods dealer maintain its trend of unhappy New Years, or does a surprise await?
Photos ©SoraNews24
Bag design ©Chocolate
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
[ Read in Japanese ]









Things get heavy with the Gold Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard
Village Vanguard tries to tickle us pink with a Pink Lucky Bag
The Purple Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is an extra-large waste of money
Time to open the final Village Vanguard Luck Bag of 2026, the magical girl Red Lucky Bag
Village Vanguard’s Blue Lucky Bag may have the most impressive piece of junk ever created
Three beautiful places to see Japan’s plum blossoms after starting your day in downtown Tokyo
Huge Evangelion Unit-01 head appearing in lights in Japan to celebrate anime’s 30th anniversary
A spotlight on Japanese singles figure skating: Jumping into the 2026 Olympics【Pt. II】
Japan’s suicides fall to lowest recorded number ever, but one demographic hits all-time high
McDonald’s Japan partners with anime English teacher, but did they commit a cultural error?[Video]
12 toilet oddities around the world that surprise Japan
Hot sandwich maker becomes hot dessert maker with super-easy choco banana pie recipe【SoraKitchen】
Act of Japanese kindness touches one man’s heart, provides hope for elevator etiquette
Chinese classroom introduces roller coaster-style desks, hopes to protect kids’ eyesight
Everyday Japanese names that make English speakers chuckle
Yokai are descending upon Tokyo this spring in the latest immersive art experience
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
New Studio Ghibli stamps leave an impression on your stationery…and your heart
Cherry blossom forecasts map shows Japan’s OTHER sakura season is starting right now
Japanese women sound off on their minimum height requirements for a husband【Survey】
Japanese man gets drunk and falls asleep on Tokyo streets, then gets robbed by foreign national
Japan has a new bar just for people thinking about quitting their jobs, and the drinks are free
420 million yen in cash-filled suitcases stolen on Tokyo streets, incidents at Haneda and Hong Kong follow
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Japan releases first official sakura cherry blossom forecast for 2026
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning looks to be affecting tourist crowds on Miyajima
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys from Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Village Vanguard’s most expensive Black Lucky Bag sets an ominous tone for 2026
How much trash is in Village Vanguard’s 2022 Lucky Bags? We bought 7 to find out
【Lucky Bag Roundup 2018】Celebrate the Year of the Dog with Village Vanguard’s “Cat Lucky Bag 2”
Village Vanguard possibly tops its own record for most useless junk in a lucky bag this year
Is Village Vanguard Outlet’s 2023 lucky bag filled with 60,000 yen worth of trash or treasure?
Village Vanguard’s “dangerous” lucky bag promises thrilling highs and miserable lows
Does the 2023 Village Vanguard Lucky Bag satisfy our need for useless junk? Let’s find out!
Great deals on edible scorpions and more at Village Vanguard this holiday season!
What’s inside Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
What’s inside the McDonald’s Japan fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Starbucks Japan’s Lucky Bag #3: A fukubukuro surprise we weren’t expecting
【Lucky Bag Roundup 2017】 We push our luck with a 3,000 yen “lucky bag” from Akihabara junk shop
How lucky are the themed retro video game lucky bags from this shop in the Tokyo boonies?
【Lucky Bag Roundup 2017】PPAP inspires a pineapple fukubukuro from Loft
The Muji “Fukukan” puts a disappointing spin on Japan’s New Year’s lucky bag tradition
Leave a Reply