Gifts to Japan

My husband and I are leaving soon to visit a friend in Tokyo. This will be our first trip to Japan, and we know that they have a very strong gift-giving tradition there. Does anyone have any suggestions for generic gifts? I've read that things unique to the U.S. or Washington State would be appropriate, but I don't know what is available in Japan and what they would see as being American. If anyone can help, I'd appreciate it. Also feel free to give us any other advice for our trip. :)

--DanaK

Our friends that go back to Germany ever year say that they have to bring a current calendar with scenes from their area. I would never have thought of this but they say everyone always wants one.

Also DanaK, my Brother lives in Silverdale and I think that is close by you. It is very beautiful in Washington.

The people from southeast asia that I have worked with love little pins. They seem to collect them. They can be from your local area or the US. DH has received socks and hankercheifs as gifts from them. I have sent wild rice with dh on trips as it is Minnesotan besides. I had to be careful as the first package of wild rice I was about to purchase was from Canada. DH didn't seem to have problems with customs with them.
Enjoy your trip! Sounds like a wonderful place to visit.

Are you comming to Japan? Wow! Please enjoy the trip:)
I think a current calendar is good idea. An objects of local craft work or typical American foods or sweets/snacks are also acceptable.
But, Japanese shall be happy to get anything if it given with heartfelt feelings of you!!

If I can , I would suggest you that you could take something really american, perhaps a gift made by native americans. The Navajos made nice stuff using turquoise and that would be really nice.

And remember they would never be able to get something like that in Japan or nowhere else by that matter.

Don't know about your budget, but these are very inexpensive. I brought a bunch of different scened Iowa key chains when we went to Holland. The cousins liked them. (at least that's what they said! lol)

I think after all, people get tired to watch pictures, so I dont think that some pictures of common American scene would be good. But that's just my opinion. The pictures always tell more to the giver than to the receiver.
I would find something really concrete nice. Something that has things to do with history. Nowadays everything is plastic and stuff:) Some old wooden statues made by the original people of America, Indians. Or something other things made by Indians.

Trouble is those key chains were probably made in Japan.

Where I am from it would make sense to take the necklaces the Navajo girls make & sell at the stands down in Monument Valley. Some are real works of art and darned expensive and worth every penny. The young girls make repetitive rather simple ones that sell much cheaper. [tho, not by the time they got resold in Wash State.]

The local pictures calendars sound great. We used to get the best local ones from the feed store. The little blurbs would be of interest, as the folks in Japan are as curious about us and our ways as we they.

Nah, blooms, I checked, they were made in the USA. LOL Lotta stuff isn't tho!

Thanks so much for your ideas, everyone! Keep them coming if you think of more...

I like the idea of something Native American. We have a lot of Native American art here-- I'm sure I can find something appropriate. And there's no doubt that it would truly be American! That's the hardest part for me-- knowing what is "American." So much of our culture is borrowed from other cultures. Also, with a global economy, I'm afraid I'll end up getting them something they actually have at their local store! (I am making sure not to get things made in Japan, though!)

Goldenfish-- yes, we're leaving to visit your country on the 22nd! We have a friend in Tokyo who's getting married, and then she's going to give us the grand tour. We're also planning on spending a few days in Okinawa. I'll have to look on a map to see where Tottori is. I'm very excited for this trip-- I will enjoy learning about Japanese culture.

--DanaK

My daughter and her husband were just in Japan. They visited two women who had spent time in the U.S. as exchange students and lived with my daughter and her husband. They had a great time.

My wife and I were in Tokyo and Kyoto a few years ago. One of these women came up from Nagasaki and spent a day in Kyoto with us. That was the best day of our tirp being shown around by a person from the country.

My favorite memory is of a young girl riding a unicyle and also a group of young children on colorful bicycles swooping like butterflies.

This mother of this woman who was our guide was living in Nagasaki when we dropped the bomb. She walked through the barren area the following day. She is quite old but in good health.

Hi DanaK,
I've never been to Okinawa. I'm jealous;) Please enjoy the exotic atmosphere of a southern land. Okinawa is a famous typhoon alley. Have fun and take care!!

Dana, You might consider Almond Roca.Made in Tacoma as I recall,and in a redish container. The color was said to have some significance is Asian countries.

Balvenie,

Yes, someone I work with suggested Almond Roca, which I thought was a wonderful idea. I work in Tacoma, too, so it's certainly local. Do you know what significance the red has??

Sorry,I don't remember what the significance is it was so long ago.Seems I just read they are coming out with a cashew roca.

I do not know the significance of red but I do no that white is the color of death and funerals.

Yes, and I found that their word "four" is pronounced the same as their word for "death." I'm glad I found that, becuase getting someone a set of four in Japan is like wishing a death sentence upon them! There a set is five.

Just found several 'color meanings' on the web and one of them stated pink,the roca package color,means good health and life.Also very important was how the package was wrapped and that the host didn't open the package in front of the giver.Many unusual 'rituals' related to gift giving.Haven't been to Tokyo since '55, but it was very nice then.I'm sure you will have a great time.

I was going to suggest the almond rocca or something like Aplets and Cotlets which are made in Cashmere WA. I would think a treat of consumable items would be very nice for them as then they aren't stuck displaying something they don't care for just to please you.

Another thing I thought of is smoked salmon from WA. I know there are some very nice packages of that which is shelf stable until opened.

Have a great time on your trip. I haven't been there since I waded in the fountain at the Royal Palace when I was probably 3 or 4 years old.

Ponditis-- The smoked salmon is a great idea. Many of them come in native American-style boxes, too!

I picked up a couple calendars, local wine, candies, and kitchen gadgets (a special request from my friend) today to take. We also want to get some Ichiro stuff from the Mariners Team Store, and she wants Bath and Bodyworks soaps. We're leaving in less than two weeks now!

Thanks for the great suggestions! We'll be shopping next weekend, too, so keep 'em coming!

--DanaK

There are some beautiful wood items made of burlwood from California redwood...trivets showing the gorgeous grain of the wood, small clocks, boxes, etc. That is a very nice gift of something from our country that they wouldn't get there.

My husband is Japanese and so I know very well what many Japanese people like. Food is always a welcome gift. Chocolate is always a good gift and I would suggest Ghirardelli or another good brand of American chocolate (skip the Hershey's and Nestle's! LOL)

They also love designer goods, and if you can get smaller things that are by American designers, like Coach or Ralph Lauren, they'd love that too.

We had a young lady from Japan (in her 20's) at our school for 2 months to teach Japanese cuture to our students through a good will program. What a delight she was and I am trying to think of the things that she loved while here. One thing that made her eyes light up and so surprised me was a yo yo! I had one laying about on my table and she loved it so of course I gave it to her. She loved pictures of our area, tee shirts with cute sayings and things indicative of the area (like sea shells) but probably because she was visiting here. If I think of other small things I will let you know and what a great adventure for you!

My husband is a martial arts instructor, and we have traveled to Japan and given gifts to visiting Japanese dignitaries for over 30 years. They love food indigenous to the area - as was mentioned above. We live near Jack Daniels distillery and always took Jack Daniels and paraphanalia (sp?) from Jack Daniels to them. They also liked small hand-made things-such as hand made wooden bowls. They mostly like the thought of being given gifts from America-they certainly don't have to be expensive. Once we gave them coon skin caps as a humorous gift- since we are from Tennessee. They loved those and wore them everywhere - laughing all the while. I hope you have a great time in Japan - just prepare yourself for a very long airplane ride!

If we give something to a foreigner it is Finnish food (especially salmiac and tar candies) - we've got some unique stuff :) A flag is a nice idea too ;)

Evert
Do you have Kashmiri flag?

my friends from Japan are always wanting sweets and chocolate. One has a fetish for twinkies. says junk food is hard to come by there. oh the envy of being able to fly as i am grounded for life( ear problems. have a wonderful trip!!!

No, I don't have one. Only a small flag of Pakistan and a bit bigger flag of India.

I just asked my husband and he said "No Calendars!" LOL

He said it's the most common "give away" thing that companies and stores give in Japan, so people have them in every room. He says nobody he knows would want one, so I guess I would stick with the food or handicraft idea.

Calendars are nice but I don't think they are a really good idea to give to everyone. Here in Finland (and Estonia + Sweden at least) we like to have namedays and flagging days marked in them. Without them I feel like I am missing something. :/

The redwoods in Japan are said to be beautiful and the only other spot on the planet where they grow naturally other then here on our western coast. The Japanese tourists that come through this area buy a great deal of wooden trinkets and art pieces. Polished burl ear rings and necklaces are always a big hit with the ladies. And the pen and pencil desk sets go over well with the men.