At a household in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, two sisters excitedly talked about the otoshidama they received from their grandfather, proudly counting their gifts and calculating how much they could spend. Their parents said they typically let the children take around 5,000 yen to buy what they like, allowing them to decide for themselves how to use the money. When asked what they planned to buy, the children mentioned items such as stickers and small toys, choosing things they could only find at specific shops. For adults, seeing children smile when receiving otoshidama remains a pleasure, but among those giving the money, a sense of strain is increasingly evident. People interviewed on the street said that while it is painful to give money amid rising living costs, cutting back feels unavoidable for some. Others said that even 1,000 yen no longer buys much, highlighting how inflation has reduced the real value of otoshidama. Those with many relatives to give to said the burden grows heavier each year.