落とし穴５４堀：お正月のお約束 (Part1)
Pitfall 54: New Year’s Traditions
Side: Yuki
Well then, Happy New Year.
Repeating this greeting for two or three days straight makes me feel like I’m about to have a mental breakdown.
New Year’s Day—the start of the year—is a massive event celebrated all over the world, both on Earth and in Japan.
But that’s not all there is to it.
For every one of us enjoying the festivities, there are those providing the enjoyment.
The people who treat the first few days of January as their peak earning season.
We call them merchants.
Well, for those who were forced into it due to economic circumstances or shift schedules, I salute your hard work.
In Japan, there are some truly heinous workplaces that don’t even offer extra pay for working on New Year’s, but here in Weed, we don’t have that. I’ve strictly ordered that anyone working on New Year’s Day must receive holiday pay and compensatory time off later. Honestly, if a manager doesn’t follow this, they’re subject to punishment.
I refuse to let anyone be worked like a pack horse. Don’t underestimate the average worker, damn it.
...Oops, some of my old Japanese frustrations just leaked out.
Let’s get back to the topic. Business.
For merchants, New Year’s is the ultimate money-making opportunity.
People’s purse strings loosen significantly to celebrate the turn of the year.
In Japan, it’s standard to see lines forming from the morning of New Year’s Day for "lucky bags" (fukubukuro).
There are even people who camp out overnight.
It’s like those big hobby conventions in Odaiba happening all over the place. I wouldn’t say it’s quite on that scale, though.
...Wait a second. Since I came here, have I missed more than four of those massive sales events?
Gahhh!? Oh no, the nostalgia is hitting me. I’d been too busy to think about it, but now that I remember, I want in.
No, I want to participate in that chaotic excitement again.
I’ve drifted off-topic again.
Actually, the reason I’m lost in thought by myself is because of these very lucky bags.
Lucky bags: Their history isn’t actually that deep. Around 1911, there are records of bags containing good-luck charms sold at shrines during the first visit of the year being called "fukubukuro." Even earlier, around 1902, newspaper advertisements mentioned "remnants, clearance items, fabric, lucky bags, all in stock," suggesting the business model was already well-known.
The prototype is said to be the "Ebisu bag" from the Edo period, which was considered a revolutionary way to sell dry goods.
...As for the contents of those Ebisu bags, it’s said they were filled with the leftover fabric scraps from the year.
In other words, it was inventory clearance.
It was a brilliant idea by merchants to bundle items that were hard to sell individually or were left over at the end of the year, adding a few decent items to make them attractive as New Year’s celebration goods.
It looks generous, clears out stock, and for the buyers, they get some good items, nothing useless, and it’s cheaper than buying everything separately, so there are no complaints.
In a sense, it’s a win-win.
By the way, this lucky bag concept originated in Japan and has even been adopted abroad under names like "Happy Bags," becoming quite popular.
The Japanese merchant spirit is truly terrifying. It seems they were aiming for globalization even back in the Edo period.
"Hoho. As expected, the merchants from your hometown, Brother, are not to be underestimated."
The one reacting to my trivia is Ratz, who is well-versed in business among my wives.
"And you’re amazing for adopting it so easily, Ratz."
That comes from Eris, whose long ears are slightly red from the cold.
"I’m going to buy up all the lucky bags with alcohol. Nufufufu..."
The next one to voice such an ambition is, needless to say, Milly.
At first, I wondered why she drank so much, but thinking about it, it makes sense.
She used to be a receptionist at the Adventurer’s Guild; I can only imagine the trouble she had to deal with.
She must have been under a lot of stress.
Her parents, her sister, and her colleagues at the guild have all told me not to abandon her, noting that her drinking has decreased compared to the past.
She’s not a violent drunk, and she’s a devoted wife, so I have no complaints.
However, like Eris, she tends to suppress her own desires, so I have to be mindful of that. Drinking can be seen as a form of escapism or a way to relieve pent-up stress.
Well, lately, alcohol seems to be becoming more of a hobby for Milly. Collecting and tasting various kinds of liquor. Whiskey bottles are pretty interesting, aren't they?
As I watch Milly’s face light up at the thought of alcohol, Ratz delivers a death sentence as if she just remembered something.
"What are you talking about? The lucky bags were so popular last year that the stock disappeared instantly, so you can only buy two per person, per type. Didn’t you know that, Milly?"
Ratz points to a poster on the shop wall.
Sure enough, just as Ratz said, it states that there is a limit of two bags per person.
This part is just like Japan, too.
I guess people flock to these things everywhere.
Well, I’ve rambled on, but this is all just to kill time.
There are only 10 minutes left until the store opens.
I’m here as a "body count" member for the Super Ratz New Year’s sale, dragged out early in the morning—or rather, before the sun even rose—to secure these lucky bags.
Honestly, I thought about just using Ratz’s authority to set aside some bags for us, but the wives refused, saying they wanted to choose for themselves and were worried that if we used our status, we’d just be given the "best" ones, which takes the fun out of it.
I truly agree with that sentiment.
Well, I suppose lining up like this is part of the New Year’s event...
I’m not really interested in lucky bags myself, though... I mean, the labor-to-reward ratio is definitely off, right!?
In Japan, you’d spend tens of thousands of yen on random contents; wouldn’t it be better to just buy what you want?
Essentially, it’s the same as buying a lottery ticket, but standing in line like this makes my head spin.
"Big Brother, I bought some warm drinks!"
"Brother, I bought some too."
"We had to go pretty far."
"The nearby vending machines were sold out."
As I was thinking that, the little ones I’d dispatched as a beverage procurement squad returned.
"Ah, I see. With this many people in line, of course they’d sell out. Thanks, everyone."
The wives also thank them and take a breather with the warm drinks.
Still, sold out, huh?
"This is something to improve for next year."
"Agreed. Looking at the line, there are families with children here too, so we need to prepare ways to keep them warm."
"Indeed. Someday, our own daughters will be lining up, too."
...Ah, is that so?
"In that case, why not prepare something like the sweet sake (amazake) you mentioned, Yuki?"
"Well, that’s a classic. I think it’s a good idea, but how’s the rice production?"
"...In terms of harvest volume alone, it’s nowhere near enough. We plan to expand the rice-growing regions next year."
"Are you asking if all of Weed will be able to eat rice every day, Kaya?"
"Exactly as Eris says."