Description
Fuku means happiness in Japanese and masu means box. Masu were traditionally used by the Japanese to measure such items as rice, beans or even sake. Fuku masu or happiness boxes are a special type of masu which the Japanese use during the spring festival called Setsubun (Feb 2nd). During the festival, Japanese families scatter soy beans, coins (and sometimes candy for the kids) around their homes in order to drive away unhappy spirits. These boxes are used to carry the soy beans and coins (and candy) during this ritual. The boxes stack one into another for easy storage until next year’s spring festival.
About the Listed Item
This antique wooden fuku masu box is structurally in excellent condition with firm and tight joints. The box is very worn and has many scratches as well as chips and marks from age and past use. The box is held together with bamboo pins along with fine wooden joints. Faded Japanese writing is visible in places on the surface of the box and carved Japanese writing is found on the underside. This item dates from the early to mid Japanese Showa period (1926-1989).
Size:
Height: 2.8 inches (7.2 centimeters)
Width: 3.4 inches (8.7 centimeters)
Length: 3.4 inches (8.7 centimeters)
Weight: 4.4 ounces (125 grams)
Click here to see more Fuku Masu boxes!
Click here to see other Buddhist items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!
item code: R1S4-0003426
category code: fukumasu
ship code: L1650
Japan Antique Roadshow 
[…] For more about fuku masu, see here. […]
By: 2008 Christmas Woodworking Project - Double-End Grain Boxes « Daiku Bob’s Weblog on January 4, 2009
at 9:46 am
hello! I would love to purchase this happiness box.. so beautiful. I am interested in using this box to put an engagement ring inside. How do I go about buying this box and would you have other items that have a top so the box can be closed?
thank you and hope to hear SOON from you.
Todd
By: todd on January 23, 2009
at 12:57 pm
[…] For more about fuku masu, see here. […]
By: 2008 Christmas Woodworking Project – Double-End Grain Boxes | Daiku Bob's Weblog on November 6, 2009
at 4:06 pm
Love the happiness box, It is beautiful in its simplicity. I remember back in my village in India, my grand mother used to have a box like this with a slideing cover, She used to have rock salt in it, as it kept dry. Simple and thats why it is happiness.
VR
By: Venkat on August 23, 2011
at 2:46 am