Pop Japan

The Japanese are fond of decoratives and charms hanged, used to wish something or to indicate a festive event.

Here, we listed five kawaii and eyecatching things that's unique in Japan.

1. Furin- Furin are summer wind chimes. It is made up of glass ball, commonly painted with pastel colors and sakura or anything that relates to summer season. Historically, furin are introduced by Chinese buddhist monks, used to determine the direction of the wind.

(Photo by flickr.com)

2. Teru teru bōzu- Teru teru bozu is a traditional Japanese doll made up of tissue, cloth, and ribbon, believed to make the weather better when hanged in front of window pane. There's actually a nursery rhyme associated with teru teru bozu, translated:

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu

Do make tomorrow a sunny day

Like the sky in a dream sometime

If it’s sunny I’ll give you a golden bell.

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu

Do make tomorrow a sunny day

If you make my wish come true

We’ll drink lots of sweet sake.

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu

Do make tomorrow a sunny day but if it’s cloudy and I find you crying (i.e. it’s raining)

Then I shall snip your head off.

(Photo by flickr.com)

3. Koinobori- Koinobori are koi or carp streamers usually seen in the Month of April and May to commemorate Children's Day in Japan on the 5th of May.

(Photo by sakura-house.com)

4. Tanabata Streamers- Tanabata streamers are long decors hanged when Tanabata festival is approacing on July 7 (or August 7) in several places where the festival is celebrated.

(Photo by japanphototrip.com)

5. Kusudama- Kusudama, literally means medicine ball, is a colorful decor out of glued origami. In the ancient Japanese culture, real flowers and herbs are used to form Kusudama, and used for incense or potpourri.

(Photo by deviantart.com)