2022年年始スペシャル お年玉の使い道
### 2022 New Year’s Special: How to Spend Your New Year’s Allowance
**Side: Yuki**
There is a theory that the etymology of *otoshidama* (New Year’s allowance) comes from the round *kagami mochi* offered to the *toshigami* (New Year’s deity) to welcome them into the home. The head of the household would divide this mochi—which served as a *yorishiro* (a vessel for the deity’s spirit) and a symbol of the *toshigami*—among family members and servants. This mochi was referred to as "O-toshi-dama" (the spirit of the year).
In other words, by sharing the mochi inhabited by the deity, one prayed for good health and a bountiful harvest for the coming year. Another theory suggests it is called *toshidama* (year gift) because it is a lucky charm and a grateful blessing for the year.
The custom of giving cash only became generalized in the latter half of the Showa 30s (the 1960s). It is said that as the country entered a period of economic growth, urban dwellers stopped pounding their own mochi to offer to the *toshigami* in their homes. Another theory posits that in the old days, children were given toys for the New Year, and money eventually replaced that custom.
Well, that’s the history of *otoshidama*. Despite all that high-minded talk, when it comes down to it...
"For children, it’s the most exciting day after their birthday, isn't it?"
"You're right. In my case, New Year’s was about the only time I’d ever get my hands on cash."
"Indeed. Growing up in a poor household, it was the only time I received money, and I could spend it however I liked."
"That’s true. I hear that nowadays, many families give their children larger amounts of cash as *otoshidama* to help them develop a sense of financial management."
As Souta-san said, I feel like I learned the value of money by carefully considering how to spend my *otoshidama*. I was always told to keep a proper ledger of my expenses.
"Oh, by the way, Yuki-san, do you give *otoshidama* to your children?"
"Hm? Ah, I give it to the older ones like Sakura. Ratz and Eris tell them they need to learn how to manage money and understand the going rates."
"Hmm. I suppose Ratz-kun and Eris-kun are rather strict mothers, then?"
"Haha. Every parent is like that. But speaking of *otoshidama*... I wonder what I actually spent mine on?"
As Souta-san tilted his head in thought, we all began to try and recall our own childhood spending habits.
"Let’s see. When I was a kid, I think I ended up pouring it all into toys. By middle and high school, it became a sort of emergency fund for the year. How about you, Yuki-san?"
"You were surprisingly sensible, Taiki-kun. As for me... well, I was just like you. You know, hero belts, action figures, plastic models."
"Ah, I was the same. Back then, things like *Gundam* and *Kamen Rider* were incredibly popular."
"Ho, I see. It’s wonderful that toys were being sold like that. In my day, I’d buy a few small tools at most, and generally, I’d just make my own kites and such."
Ah, Taizou-san grew up in the early Showa era, so that makes sense. He had to gather everything himself and build it from scratch. When you think about it, it’s truly amazing that Japan has come this far in the roughly 80 years since World War II. After all, the country was once reduced to nothing but scorched earth.
By the way, today is the third day of the New Year, and everyone in the family is spending it in their own way. It’s a leisurely holiday, with people chatting with friends, going out for drinks, shopping, or the children heading out to play.
Still, I was starting to get a bit bored of the idle chatter...
"So, shall we try playing something?"
"That sounds good. Should we play a game?"
"Oh, that’s nice. What shall we play? Something for a party?"
"Hmm. If we’re all playing together, that might be best."
As a group of grown men sat around agonizing over what to play, I opened my browser to search for some ideas, including board games...
"Oh, this plastic model just came out. Look, Yuki-san."
"Oh. For real?"
"Ho. A new *Gundam* kit? That’s nice."
"Recent *Gunpla* are really well-made. Let’s see... oh, a remake of the *Zaku*."
Yes, what we were looking at was a *Zaku* plastic model. It seems they’ve finally released a remake, and we had just stumbled upon it.
"Shall we order one to try it out?"
I’m a hobbyist when it comes to building plastic models, so I ordered one right away. Since I can settle the cost with DP, I could technically build a luxurious model room if I only looked at my current financial situation, but the tragedy is that I don't have the time to sit and build them slowly and carefully. Well, I’m still working on them bit by bit, though.
When the model arrived, Taiki-kun and I immediately opened the lid to check the runners and the manual. Souta-san and Taizou-san were looking at the box art.
"Hmm, I can't quite tell. Looking at the manual, does it have a wider range of motion?"
"It seems so. The old ones had a narrower range of motion than I thought. It says here that they’ve added those kinds of gimmicks."
"Hmm. How about we try building them? I’ll build the *Zaku* with the old runners."
"That’s a fine idea. Then I shall build the old *Zaku* as well. Yuki-kun and Taiki-kun, you two build with the new runners, and we can compare them."
"Are you sure? You two could play *shogi* or something else if you wanted."
"No, no. It wouldn't feel right to do something else in this situation."
"Ah, don't worry about it. Besides, we want to build them too. Especially with robot models like this, it really gets the imagination going."
Souta-san and Taizou-san said with smiles. Well, it would be rude to do something else while they were building models. And honestly, the "imagination" Taizou-san mentioned seems to be shared by Narjia-san, Comet, and Agil; whenever a new model comes out, they buy and build it immediately.
...I’m starting to worry that they might eventually try to build a real mobile suit on their own.
Of course...
"Big Brother, are you there? Wait, is that a *Zaku*!?"
Filia has become a huge fan of plastic models, too.
"Ah, you’re right. Are you building that, Big Brother? Wait, the package looks different?"
"Come to think of it, you’re right. The number is new. It’s a new release."
"Amazing! A *Zaku* with new runners! Bandai has done it again! Big Brother, Filia wants one too! I want to build it!"
"Haha, please calm down, Filia. Yuki-san, is that alright?"
"Yeah, it’s fine. Didn't you have something to do, though?"
"Nope. I just had some free time, so I came over to play."
"And then you found all the men gathered here building plastic models, and Filia went into overdrive."
As Labyris said, Filia snatched the new *Zaku* model Taiki-kun and I were looking at, her eyes sparkling. By the way, Narjia-san, Comet, and Agil were just as excited. I made a mental note to check later to make sure they weren't building anything too strange.
"Alright. I’ll get enough for everyone, so shall we build them together?"
"Let’s do it! I’m going to build a *Zaku*!"
"Sounds good!"
"This is a nice change of pace."
"Really? I feel like you’re always being dragged into this by Filia anyway. Well, it’s fine."
And just like that, we ended up producing nine *Zaku* units in a single day, completing a full company. The finished models were placed in the display room managed by Filia and the model-building team. As for the quality, the new runners certainly offered a wider range of motion, giving us a glimpse into the future of plastic models.
"This is a nice way to spend the New Year, too."
"Indeed. So, what shall we do next? Build a *Gundam*?"
"If we do that, we’ll have to build a *Guncannon* and a *Guntank* too, won't we?"
"Haha. That sounds great. Shall we spend the whole day building plastic models?"
"Yay! I’m going to build a mountain of models!"
"Er, I think I’ve had enough for now."
"Haha, then let’s prepare some tea and play board games or cards."
"That sounds lovely. Let’s play something the three of us can enjoy."
And so, the New Year passed by with everyone doing what they enjoyed most.
It seems that when it comes to *otoshidama*, people either agonize over how to spend it or dump the whole amount into something they’ve already decided on. By the way, I, Yuki, am also quite frustrated by the scarcity of plastic models—specifically *Gunpla*. I can't complete my *GM* squad. Oh, please, increase production!
Well then, have a wonderful New Year.
I’d be happy if you told me how you spend your *otoshidama*.