Nagasaki souvenirs, Poppen

Many places in Japan are offering unique souvenirs, and sometimes these souvenirs are so local-specific that, at the first glance, you may be unable to realize what they are used for...

The vivid colored glass balls from the photo are popular souvenirs specific to Nagasaki. Called poppen because of the sound made when air is blown inside, these delicate glassworks were originally toys, but in time they become good luck charms, because it is believed that blowing into a poppen on New Year's Day will avert the bad luck.