Fukubukuro (福袋) is a fascinating Japanese tradition that celebrates the New Year with hopes for prosperity in the coming year. The custom originated from the concept of the "Ebisu Bag," introduced by a major textile (kimono) merchant who sold leftover kimono swatches to customers. Over time, the tradition evolved, and today, Fukubukuro is commonly known as a "lucky bag" or "blind bag," filled with surprises and fortune.
In 2019, I started offering Sashiko Fukubukuro to cerebrate the New Year with you, with Sashiko. Although it doesn't have a strong connection to traditional Sashiko, I am delighted to continue this offering, sharing the joy of discovery and good fortune.
Sashiko Fukubukuro isn't really Blind... though
Although the traditional concept of Fukubukuro revolves around a "blind bag"—where the contents remain a surprise—our Sashiko Fukubukuro takes a slightly different approach. We provide a list of the items included in the bag, offering transparency while preserving the excitement. As we offer "One of a kind" Sashiko thread, it will often be a part of the Sashiko Fukubukuro.
Historically, Fukubukuro originated as a way for merchants to sell "leftover" stock, helping clear out overwhelming inventories. This practice is still common among many shops in Japan today. However, as you may have noticed, we don’t have a large surplus of inventory to begin with—many items on our website are often marked as "Sold Out."
Instead of using the Fukubukuro as a means to offload excess stock, we’ve reimagined it as an opportunity to share the joy of Sashiko with as much value and discount as possible. Our goal is to celebrate the spirit of Sashiko and inspire our customers to continue their creative journey into the New Year.
Availability of Sashiko Fukubukuro
Our Sashiko Fukubukuro is thoughtfully prepared in Japan. While I wish I could deliver them to everyone interested, the number of bags we can prepare is limited. For many years, Fukubukuro has been exclusively available in Japan or for those able to purchase through Keiko’s Japanese website.
However, in 2025, during the Sashiko Japan Retreat, I had the opportunity to discuss Fukubukuro with Keiko in Japan. As a result, I’ve arranged for a limited number of Fukubukuro bags to be made available within the United States. These bags will be offered in limited quantities, bringing the joy of this tradition to more people outside of Japan.
What is the contents of Sashiko Fukubukuro?
Each year, we come up with new ideas on sharing the joy with Sashiko fans. Each Fukubukuro page introduce what are their theme & contents. Please find the link below!
Fukubukuro Toward 2025
Small "Furoshiki" for your trial of stitching on our Indigo Fabric & new Threads in 2024.
https://sashikostory.com/products/fukubukuro-offer-1-2025
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Kakishibu Dyed Sashiko Thread Package (25) - Fukubukuro Offer
https://sashikostory.com/products/kakishibu-dyed-sashiko-thread-25
Happy New Year to you & to your Sashiko!
The year 2024 has been a challenging, yet (or therefore) eye-opening year for me. I strongly realize where I stand in a realm of Sashiko & I am very much commited to what I need to do to preserve the Sashiko we practice.
I remain dedicated to my mission: sharing Sashiko stories, offering live streams, classes, and workshops, and ensuring the sustainability of Sashiko by providing authentic Sashiko supplies. These efforts are my way of honoring this beautiful tradition and connecting with those who appreciate its value.
I am sincerely grateful to everyone who has supported our Sashiko journey throughout 2024. Your encouragement means the world to me. I look forward to continuing this journey together in 2025, sharing the essence of Sashiko with the world.
Thank you, and Happy New Year!