Wa-taoru "Pyoko Gaeru"

Hopping little frogs – Japanese good-luck symbols in an everyday towel

This charming little towel bears the name 和たおるフェイス ぴょこガエル (Wa-taoru Face Pyoko Gaeru) – "Japanese towel: hopping frogs". The design is a cheerful nod to one of Japan's most beloved lucky charms: on a pure white ground sit small, bright green Kaeru (カエル, frogs) in pairs – one as a filled silhouette, one as a fine outline drawing. Their name Kaeru is a popular play on words in Japan, as it also means "to return" – which is why frogs are regarded as lucky symbols for a safe homecoming and the return of fortune and money. Pyoko (ぴょこ) is an onomatopoeic word for small hopping movements and gives the motif a lively, playful character. A cloth with a wink and cultural depth alike.