Hello Kitty Hagoita

Many of the traditional good luck charms are still extremely popular in Japan, but as in many cases the tradition is beautifully combined with modernism. Photographed here is a hagoita wooden paddle, a type of good luck amulet which was originally decorated with ukiyo-e style images of kabuki actors, geisha or sumo wrestlers.

However, the ubiquitous pop-culture icon Hello Kitty is also present, while maintaining tradition by wearing a kimono...