On New Year's Day, Japanese people have a custom of giving money to children. This is known as otoshidama (お年玉?).
It is handed out in small decorated envelopes called 'pochibukuro,' similar to Shūgi-bukuro or Chinese red envelopes and to the Scottish handsel.
In the Edo period large stores and wealthy families gave out a small bag of mochi and a Mandarin orange
to spread happiness all around.
The amount of money given depends on
the age of the child but is usually the same if there is more than one
child so that no one feels slighted. It is not uncommon for amounts
greater than ¥10,000 (US$120) to be given.
A shūgi-bukuro (祝儀袋) is a special envelope in which money is given as a gift at weddings in Japan.[1]
It is very common in Japan to give a gift of money at weddings. The giver inserts the money into a shūgi-bukuro on which they have written their name. The shūgi-bukuro is handed to the receptionist of the reception party. Shūgi-bukuro are sold at supermarkets and stationery stores.
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