Kintaro is a character from Japanese folklore who is characterized by his extraordinary strength. Once upon a time there was a boy of iron health, chubby and indefatigable. He only wore a bib with the Chinese ideogram "Gold" inscribed on it and he always moved with his axe. Kintaro lived with his mom in the woods of Kintoki Mountain where he played with his animal friends. He was able single-handedly to uproot trees and split stones. As an adult, he learned the martial arts and became a recognized and respected leader. Near Tokyo there is a temple dedicated to Kintaro: there is an enormous rock split in two, the work of the golden boy, it is said.

Okiagari-koboshi literally means "little priest standing up". It is a traditional Japanese culbuto made of papier-mâché and designed in such a way that it always returns to an upright position when tilted to the side. Japanese children have been playing with okiagari-koboshi for a long time; they already appeared in writings from the 14th century. During the Tokaichi or Tenth Day Market, customers release several of these tumblers at the same time and the ones that stay upright are said to bring good luck.

Finally, they symbolize perseverance and resistance in the face of adversity, echoing the Japanese proverb: “Seven times down, eight times up”. Tradition dictates that one buys a culbuto for each member of the family plus one, in the hope that the family will grow during the year.