fukuro

Fukuro is a Japanese noun meaning a bag, pouch, or sack. It is written with the kanji 袋 and is read fukuro in kun’yomi. The term refers to a container used to hold or carry items, from groceries to personal belongings.

The character 袋 denotes a general bag or receptacle, and the word appears in various everyday expressions, including compounds such as 紙袋 kamibukuro, meaning a paper bag. The concept is tied to the idea of a portable container used for carrying objects.

A notable cultural use is 福袋 fukubukuro, literally a “fortune bag” or “lucky bag.” In Japan, retailers sell fukubukuro around the New Year, offering sealed bags at a fixed price. The contents are unknown at purchase, but the total value inside is typically greater than the price paid, making the bags popular with shoppers seeking bargains or surprises.

Fukuro is distinct from fukurō, which is a homophone written with different kanji (梟) and means owl. The two are unrelated in meaning, though their similar romanization can cause confusion for non-Japanese speakers.

See also: 袋, the general concept of bags and containers; 福袋, the New Year tradition of lucky bags.