Big crowds lined up in front of department stores nationwide yesterday on the first morning of the Lunar New Year to try to win cash certificates and merchandise in “lucky bags” (福袋).
Lucky bags filled with various goods were sold at discount prices on New Year’s Day, as a thank you to customers, is a tradition that began in Japan some years ago.
In recent years, many department stores and retailers in Taiwan picked up the practice of selling lucky bags filled with unknown goods on the first day of the Lunar New Year as part of celebration of the holiday.
Photo: Luo Pei-der, Taipei Times
While the merchandise in the bags varied from cash certificates to electric appliances, the latest smartphones, blankets and even care products, some special prizes included diamonds and automatic massage chairs.
This year, a total of 10 cars were given out as the first prize at 10 department stores across the nation, which was reportedly the most number of cars given away in recent years.
Despite the rain, and temperatures as low as 10?C, some people began to line up in front of department stores a few days ago, equipped with food and sleeping bags, to ensure that they would be the first to enter the store and obtain a lucky bag.
However, one case of “line rage” was reported in front of a department store in Greater Taichung yesterday.
A woman who accused another woman of cutting in the line for lucky bags was hit in the face with a motorcycle helmet by the other woman.
“She jumped the line, and I only spoke out of justice to stop her. Then she hit me with her helmet several times and scratched my face,” the woman said after the alleged attacker was taken away by the police.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
BULLY TACTICS: Beijing has continued its incursions into Taiwan’s airspace even as Xi Jinping talked about Taiwan being part of the Chinese family and nation China should stop its coercion of Taiwan and respect mainstream public opinion in Taiwan about sovereignty if its expression of goodwill is genuine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday. Ministry spokesman Jeff Liu (劉永健) made the comment in response to media queries about a meeting between former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) the previous day. Ma voiced support for the so-called “1992 consensus,” while Xi said that although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have “different systems,” this does not change the fact that they are “part of the same country,” and that “external
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source