Fukubukuro.

The one thing I miss about January 1st-2nd in Japan: fukubukuro “lucky bags”.

I mean, it’s a genius idea for the sellers and the buyers: stuff old stock (both the unwanted stock and the popular products) into a giant bag and sell the bag for 10,000-30,000 yen. Sellers get to move a boat load of old products out of the store and recoup some of the costs; buyers get good deals on a variety of products which they may or may not want.

Canada already has Boxing Day sales for a very similar purpose, but fukubukuro bags seem like it would be better at getting rid of the most unpopular products from a store. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me who thinks this way. I think about shopping a lot.

Nike Harajuku Flagship Store.

The new Nike Flagship Store opening in Harajuku, Tokyo this Saturday, November 14th.

Looks like a crazy Lady Gaga x Nike commercial… but in real life.

(via High Snobiety)

Fuji Finepix F200EXR.

About a week ago, I sold my trusty Canon SX10 IS digital camera on Craigslist for only a little more than half of what I originally paid for it. While I was a big fan of the SX10’s 20x optical zoom (I’m still amazed at it), I found it to be too bulky to carry around easily.

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The Comeback.

I’m back from a hectic-but-not-nearly-long-enough 12-day vacation in Tokyo.

It’s the second time I’ve visited Japan since I moved back to Canada after a couple of years living Japan. Each time I come back, Tokyo seems a little more busy and crazy than before. I don’t believe it really is, but being in Vancouver gives one a somewhat false sense that the world is larger than it actually is. Maybe it’s just my age or a bit of newfound culture shock, but the lights, the people, the buildings — they’re all pretty overwhelming to take in again after being away for so long.

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