Otoshidama Japan's New Year Money Envelope: Insider's Tips

They are on the display racks already this year.  Otoshidama, the Japanese New Year's Money Envelopes, will be flying off the shelves from now until the holidays end.

Hello Kitty and some character named Stitch seem to be the most popular in my neck of the woods.

Kitty-chan was easy for me to figure out.  The thing opens up just like any other envelope.

Stitch, almost got destroyed by me trying to figure out where you stuff the money.

There, I snapped a photo so you don't have to drive yourself crazy looking.

Lucky for me, some kid was walking down the street and I asked him how you open the thing.

Walt Disney, or somebody, put these stickers in with the card.  So, I thanked the kid for helping me and gave him the stickers.  Kids love stickers.  Beats telling them to scram. 

I'm busy.

Here are three more, traditional New Year's Money Envelopes.

These are inexpensive, a ten pack goes for about 100 Yen ($1.25 or so) and you can find them at super markets, book stores, gift shops or convenience stores from November through New Years.

Children, if you haven't already guessed, are who receive Otoshidama money for the New Year.

The amount you spend on the envelopes isn't what matters; it's what goes inside.

Pocket change isn't what you stuff in them.

Crisp, brand new bills, neatly folded, are what you place in these envelopes.

Every kid in Japan, from newborns to High School graduates, that knows you, expects to see you giving out Otoshidama sometime in the first week of the New Year !

After you place the folded Yen notes in the envelope, your name goes in the block on the left,  the child's name in the block on the right side.

Really,  I'm a busy man. 

Didn't want to tell that kid to scram.

 Something to do with a bank. 

I have to plan.

Soon, it'll be Otoshidama time of the year, again !

FOR MORE ON JAPANESE MONEY ENVELOPES SEE JAPAN: INSIDER TIPS

Squatter Toilet in Japan: An Insider's Tips

IN THE VERY LIKELY EVENT YOU COME ACROSS ONE OF THESE TOILETS IN JAPAN OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN ASIA HERE ARE MY TIPS:

1. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IF YOU CAN HOLD IT !

2. IF THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A LADY, YOU HAVE TO SQUAT.

3. FACING TOWARDS THE ELEVATED END IS THE PROPER WAY TO ORIENT YOURSELF.

4. SEE THE PIPE IN THE UPPER-RIGHT CORNER?

NOT ALL SQUATTERS HAVE RUNNING WATER. THIS IS A NEW ONE.

5. BEFORE YOU GET TOO COMFORTABLE,

CHECK TO SEE IF THERE IS TOILET PAPER.

6. THINK OF HAVING SOMETHING TO GRAB AHOLD OF IN CASE YOU LOOSE YOUR BALANCE AND YOU'LL NEVER FORGET WHICH WAY TO FACE ON YE OLD SQUATTER.

CONFUCIOUS OR SOME DOCTOR ONCE SAID THIS IS THE HEALTHIEST WAY FOR YOUR BODY TO DO BOWEL MOVEMENTS.

I SAY AMERICANS AND EUROPEANS BODIES WEREN'T MADE FOR THIS KIND OF GYRATION AND UNLESS IT'S AN EMERGERCY, STICK TO TIP #1.

Cycling in Japan: An Insider's Tips

RIDE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, NOT ON THE SIDEWALKS!

If you choose to get around in Japan on a bicycle, remember to obey all the rules of the road, just as if you were driving a car. That means driving on the left side of the road, stopping at stoplights, and so on.

 Riding your bike on the sidewalks is prohibited except for persons under 12 or over 70.

 Always use caution when driving near parked cars. Many accidents with bicycles and motorcycles are caused when a cyclist collides with an opening car door!