A Little Reward for Being Forgetful

—with a Glimpse into Everyday Life in Japan—

In Japan, many people carry several small bags, pouches, or layers of clothing depending on the season. Because of that, it’s surprisingly easy to slip money into a pocket “just for now” and completely forget about it.

I’m one of those people.

Whenever someone hands me money—maybe a repayment, change from a family errand, or cash given unexpectedly—I tuck it into the nearest pocket if my wallet isn’t around.
A coat pocket, the pocket of my phone case, the inner pocket of my bag…
Anywhere that’s convenient in the moment.

And then I forget about it.
Completely.
Until the day I stumble upon it again.

In Japan, we have a phrase for this kind of small, unexpected happiness: “puchi gohōbi,” meaning “a tiny reward.”
Finding forgotten money feels exactly like that.

One day, I reached into a coat I hadn’t worn in months and found some cash.
Another time, when I was thinking, “This month is a bit tight…,” I opened my phone case and discovered money tucked inside.

It’s my own money, of course, but it still feels like a lucky surprise.

But this habit finally caught up with me.

One day, my husband received an envelope from the bank.

Husband: “Did you go to the bank on ○/◎? Did you use your card?”
Me: “What? I don’t think so…”

Inside was a notice saying I had left my cash card in an ATM.

In Japan, ATMs often return the card after dispensing cash or printing the receipt.
If you’re distracted, it’s surprisingly easy to walk away without taking the card.
And that’s exactly what I did.

I suddenly remembered:
I had gone to deposit money for a credit card payment.
I must have taken the receipt and left the card behind.

Since my husband works during the day, I’m the one who handles these monthly deposits.
We could change the withdrawal account, but in Japan, procedures often require the account holder to be present, and call centers are notoriously hard to reach.
So we’ve kept doing it manually.

Because it only happens once a month, I didn’t notice at all.
I really need to be more careful.

For a moment, I panicked—
In Japan, when someone finds a lost item and turns it in, the owner is traditionally expected to offer a small reward.
I wondered if I owed the person who found my card something like 20% of the balance.
But after checking, I learned that since the card itself has no monetary value, no reward is required.

I was relieved.
Whoever returned it—thank you so much.

Later, when my husband and I went to pick up the card, something strange happened.
The number on our waiting ticket was my husband’s birthday.

Then, at the drugstore afterward, the total amount came out to his birthday again.
And the change was 8,888 yen.

In Japan, the number 8 is considered lucky because its shape widens toward the bottom, symbolizing prosperity.
So “8888” feels especially auspicious.

The next day, at a different bank, the car parked across from us had the license plate “8888.”

All these coincidences made me wonder if something good was coming my way.
But no—I should be reflecting on my mistake.

Still…
I’ve been thinking about trying something new lately.
And after all these little signs, I felt a gentle push forward.
Maybe it’s time to give it a try.