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…

Hello Kitty Hagoita, Tokyo

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Yatsuhashi bridge in the Fujita Memorial Garden