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Gifts and Giving - When unwrapping a gift, Japanese people may carefully
remove the paper and the seals and keep the paper as a compliment to the
hosts. The presentation of the gift is an important part of the exercise; gifts are
carefully wrapped. Gifts are not opened immediately. Traditionally, it was polite to
take the gift home as is and send a thank you note later. Today, many people will
ask a guest to open a gift, but if they do not, the Japanese will resist the urge to
ask if they can open the gift. Since the act of accepting a gift can create a sense
of unfulfilled obligation on the part of the receiver, gifts are sometimes refused,
depending on the situation.
Seasonal gifts
There are two gift seasons in Japan, called oseibo (お歳暮, oseibo?) and chūgen
(中元, chūgen?). One is for winter and the other is for summer. Gifts are given to
those whom one has a relationship with, especially the people who have helped
the gift giver.
It is considered impolite to go to someone's house without a gift. In Japanese this
is called "tebura" (empty-handed). A gift is usually brought in a paper bag
(preferably a bag from the shop where you bought the gift), the gift is taken out
of the bag and the bag is placed underneath the gift when giving it to the host,
using both hands. The gift is often presented when shown into the living room,
saying "tsumaranai mono desu ga" (Literally: "It is a boring thing, but...") to show
modesty. If the host offers something, it is polite to make a soft declination saying
"okizukai naku" (please don't go through the trouble), but the guest can gladly
accept if the host asks for the second time.
Other gifts
An unusual custom in Japan is for women to give men chocolate on Valentine's
Day. The chocolate can be given to the object of the woman's affection, or to any
man the woman is connected to. The latter is called giri-choko (obligation
chocolate).
This custom is also performed by the male one month after Valentine's Day,
called White Day.
Souvenirs
In Japan, vacation-goers do not send postcards. However, those returning from a
vacation usually bring back a souvenir called omiyage(お土産). The most common
form of omiyage is a box of sweets such as chocolates or manju to be shared
around with co-workers. In tourist spots in Japan, the sale of omiyage is a big
business, and there are also omiyage stands at train stations selling gifts from
far-away areas for returning people who didn't want to carry around or have
forgotten to buy a gift. There are also services which deliver regional souvenirs
from places in Japan or from foreign countries to be used as omiyage.
remove the paper and the seals and keep the paper as a compliment to the
hosts. The presentation of the gift is an important part of the exercise; gifts are
carefully wrapped. Gifts are not opened immediately. Traditionally, it was polite to
take the gift home as is and send a thank you note later. Today, many people will
ask a guest to open a gift, but if they do not, the Japanese will resist the urge to
ask if they can open the gift. Since the act of accepting a gift can create a sense
of unfulfilled obligation on the part of the receiver, gifts are sometimes refused,
depending on the situation.
Seasonal gifts
There are two gift seasons in Japan, called oseibo (お歳暮, oseibo?) and chūgen
(中元, chūgen?). One is for winter and the other is for summer. Gifts are given to
those whom one has a relationship with, especially the people who have helped
the gift giver.
It is considered impolite to go to someone's house without a gift. In Japanese this
is called "tebura" (empty-handed). A gift is usually brought in a paper bag
(preferably a bag from the shop where you bought the gift), the gift is taken out
of the bag and the bag is placed underneath the gift when giving it to the host,
using both hands. The gift is often presented when shown into the living room,
saying "tsumaranai mono desu ga" (Literally: "It is a boring thing, but...") to show
modesty. If the host offers something, it is polite to make a soft declination saying
"okizukai naku" (please don't go through the trouble), but the guest can gladly
accept if the host asks for the second time.
Other gifts
An unusual custom in Japan is for women to give men chocolate on Valentine's
Day. The chocolate can be given to the object of the woman's affection, or to any
man the woman is connected to. The latter is called giri-choko (obligation
chocolate).
This custom is also performed by the male one month after Valentine's Day,
called White Day.
Souvenirs
In Japan, vacation-goers do not send postcards. However, those returning from a
vacation usually bring back a souvenir called omiyage(お土産). The most common
form of omiyage is a box of sweets such as chocolates or manju to be shared
around with co-workers. In tourist spots in Japan, the sale of omiyage is a big
business, and there are also omiyage stands at train stations selling gifts from
far-away areas for returning people who didn't want to carry around or have
forgotten to buy a gift. There are also services which deliver regional souvenirs
from places in Japan or from foreign countries to be used as omiyage.