Programs: CO Gold Elite, BA Blue, for the moment - Hyatt Gold Passport, Priority Club, Marriott etc etc
Posts: 1,129
What gifts to take to Japan??
Ok, so I need ideas for some gifts to take to Japan. One of the gifts will be for a high-ranking scientist who used to live in Texas, and is hosting my boss. Then we need some smaller gifts for other scientists who he will be meeting and who will be his co-hosts. He's only visiting these people for one night (they are hosting him at a ryokan that night).
What do those of you who've dealt with this suggest? My boss was thinking a framed photo of the place they used to work together (it's changed a lot), or booze. We don't want to be too cheap though.
Booze is always a good present for adult Japanese men, and it's even better if it's something local to your area, for example, if there are any whiskeys made locally.
For the man you used to work with, a framed picture of the place you used to work together would be nice, as would a photograph of all his former colleagues.
For the people you don't know, calendars or engagement books with Texas scenes on them (everyone has heard of Texas) are something that anyone can use.
If you have to buy presents for children or teens, college T-shirts or anything else with English written on it are always well-received.
Agreed, imported Whiskey is quite a bit more expensive in Japan than in in the US. I've given kids baseball caps and that seems to have played very well. Interesting food items also play well. Just remember a lot of Japanese people don't handle hot (like Tex-Mex Hot) very well.
Booze is always a good present....even better if it's something local to your area.
I just wanted to underscore this suggestion as I have given whiskey and bourbon to my Japanese boss many years ago and he was sincerly impressed. You can't wrong with this one.
Ok, so I need ideas for some gifts to take to Japan. One of the gifts will be for a high-ranking scientist who used to live in Texas, and is hosting my boss. Then we need some smaller gifts for other scientists who he will be meeting and who will be his co-hosts. He's only visiting these people for one night (they are hosting him at a ryokan that night).
What do those of you who've dealt with this suggest? My boss was thinking a framed photo of the place they used to work together (it's changed a lot), or booze. We don't want to be too cheap though.
Help!!!
Panhandle now makes decent Cab. If you have access to these would be nice.
Since you've asked, I'd like a few chili burgers & a Sonic cherry limeade please.
Agree with all the above, btw...
I don't quite get this fixation that booze is that more expensive in Japan.....it's really not! Whether it makes a great gift would depend on if they drink.
I don't quite get this fixation that booze is that more expensive in Japan.....it's really not! Whether it makes a great gift would depend on if they drink.
Everyone drinks Sonic.
Booze or Food are good. Try somthing different like green and red M&M's. T-shirts with popular themes. Gourmet food like caviar is a cool gift.
Whatever the gift it is important to take great care with the wrapping and presentation, this can be as important as the contents.
Food gifts especially. The ones I've given go onto the family shrine for a while so that departed members of the family can have their share before they're unwrapped and eaten by everyone else. I suspect not all families do this, but mine aren't particularly traditional or old fashioned, so if they do it I imagine it's quite normal.
Food gifts especially. The ones I've given go onto the family shrine for a while so that departed members of the family can have their share before they're unwrapped and eaten by everyone else. I suspect not all families do this, but mine aren't particularly traditional or old fashioned, so if they do it I imagine it's quite normal.
I don't quite get this fixation that booze is that more expensive in Japan.
Exactly!
It's true that booze is a commonly given (beer sets, bottles of sake etc.) gift among Japanese people, so it will certainly be accepted. But I would add that some Japanese people are physically incapable of handling booze. (For example Mrs. jib71 and most of her relatives get quite sick if they drink a small amount of beer or wine - not drunk, just ill).
So although booze is widely used for gifts - and easily passed on by people who don't want it for themselves - it's not the only option. I find that people greatly appreciate any "home delicacies" - cookies, candies, jams, teas, cheese etc. I always try to get things that are attractively "packaged" (but it's hard to find anything in the UK that is as painstakingly wrapped as the typical Japanese o-miyage).
Whatever the gift it is important to take great care with the wrapping and presentation, this can be as important as the contents.
I will second what Norri said, and what Laplap said about the alter(I have watched in despair as many a gift has spoiled on the alter). Presentation/packaging is most important.
