Japanese Rice Sack Babies

People often compare carting a baby around to lugging a sack of sugar, flour or rice, but Japanese parents are taking this one step further and sending out bags of rice grain as birth announcements. A recent piece about the Dakigokochi which are made to resemble a lil bundle and printed with a baby face photo and name on Stuff explained:

"Each rice bag is tailor-made to weigh as much as the new-born and shaped so the rice fills the bag up. Holding the round-edged bag would feel like holding a real baby."

The article also said that the rice bags are sent to friends and family members as half-return gifts. And, people who receive them have a hard time eating the rice.