Souvenirs for Bob Marstall

I knew Bob Marstall liked nature. The books he illustrates are about nature. We're coming into the summer season when there are many toys and products with nature themes. So, I thought I would take some stuff to give him. I almost hesitated to give it to him until he showed his photo of his "wonder cabinet". He has many treasures in shelves in his studio. I gave him this cricket in a cage. It's all plastic, but when you push a button, it sounds like a real cricket. He liked it!

I gave him this goldfish. I had never seen anything like this before in a toy shop. Lots of bugs but never a goldfish. I got it and the cricket at that small toy shop where we bought tops at New Year's. See pictures of the shop in posts of the first week of January.

I also gave him this money frog. In Japanese, the same word is used for "frog" and "return". So, if you put this frog in your coin purse or pocket, your money will return to you. These are sold at temples all year. I made the card explaining what it is and put it and the frog in the plastic bag. At the temple, there is just a bin full of little frogs.

Jindai Temple Again

The wooden ramp was still over the stone steps at Jindai Temple today. There will be a daruma festival March 3 and 4, so many people will visit the temple grounds. This is also the season for ume blossoms. People will go through the temple on their way to the Jindai Botanical Garden to view blossoms.

The view from inside the gate.

A detail of the thatched roof gate.

A display of prayer beads, small statues, and incense. The small statues are bought and then placed on an altar to pray for babies and children who have died. To respect privacy, I didn't take a picture of the altar.

For 200 yen, you can grab your future. You stick your hand through that hole in the plastic top of the box. You select one of the many small envelopes. There is a fortune in it as well as a trinket.

The koi or goldfish pond on the temple grounds.

Kids Web Japan-- daruma

Shop Cats

We saw these cats as we passed by in the car. They were sitting on the sidewalk outside this shop. They are money cats. The arm that is raised is raking in money. Shopkeepers put small money cats in their shop windows.

There were even more cats on the outside of this shop. The whole store was full of cats. It was a lucky cat shop! They must make lots of money!

Good Luck Arrow

These are sold at shrines and temples at New Year's. This is for general good luck.

These are real feathers.

Bells are on good luck items.

This will be burned at the shrine or temple next year.

Raking in Money in the Coming Year

These are also good luck rakes sold at shrines and temples at New Year's.

There is a fake branch of bamboo, pine and plum blossoms on it. Those are auspicious plants. There is a sprig of real rice, too. Rice is a food staple here. It is very important to life in Japan.

It is a rake. So, if you buy this, you will rake in lots of money in the coming year.

This is a daruma. They are also sold separately. Daruma are bought if you have a specific wish in mind. You think of the wish, then you paint or draw one of the daruma's eyes. When your wish comes true, you paint the other eye.

Daruma, this rake, and the good luck arrow will be burned next year whether the wishes come true or not.

Kids Web Japan-- daruma

Lucky Dreams

If you dream of eggplant or a hawk or Mt. Fuji on the second night of the new year, you're in luck--for the next year. Those dreams are considered lucky. Here is a picture of eggplant. They are small. They are sold wrapped in threes throughout their growing season.

Kids Web Japan--lucky dreams