Major department stores are promoting "lucky bags" to get customers to loosen their purse strings at the start of the year.
"Practical things will likely gain popularity," said an official at Daimaru Inc., which is readying lucky bags with goods geared to catchphrases including "arafour," referring to women of around 40, and "konkatsu," or activities having to do with getting married.
The Seibu store in the Ikebukuro district in Tokyo will put on sale a lucky bag containing five shirts for ¥5,000. It is also preparing ties and socks.