In praise of "mejirushi"

"Mejirushi" have always been very popular in Japan. But I think they are experiencing something of a boom in recent years. Or it may just be I am more aware of their popularity as I now have a daughter who collects them as a hobby. Either way, I am a big fan, because of their practical applications.

Mejirushi 目印 literally translates to "eye mark (sign/symbol)". 目（me） = eye, 印（jirushi） = mark, sign, symbol. I don't think we have a good phrase for it in English. Some people might say "marker", but it doesn't quite convey the concept. They are a marker that makes something stand out. And / or a visual cue or recognizable feature, that helps you identify your item instantly when placed among several similar items. They are usually a small character design on an elasticated loop. The loop is put around an item, such as a suitcase, an umbrella, a pet bottle or on zipper pulls, to name but a few.

To give you a practical example, what I use mejirushi for most is umbrellas. I use one I got free once with a drink! I slid the elasticated plastic loop from the top of my umbrella to just below the handle. Now, when I put my umbrella in an umbrella stand in Japan, even if there is another identical or similar umbrella also in the stand I can still identify my own umbrella instantly thanks to my mejirushi! Do you use mejirushi? And if so, what do you use it on?