Mastering the Art of Gift Giving in Japan

Giving gifts is a common practice in many cultures. It’s a way to show your appreciation to someone in a platonic or romantic way. Offering gifts can also help establish or maintain professional relationships for years. However, Gift-giving in Japan is a crucial part of the culture.

The art of gift-giving in Japan appears easy on the surface, but there’s a bit of nuance in the type of gift, how it’s presented, and who you give the gift.

Like in every country, there are many occasions to give a gift in Japan, such as on a birthday, to a newly married couple, or on Valentine’s Day, but gifting even extends to occasions such as when you return from a trip or offering gifts to neighbors when you move to a new house.

There are numerous occasions, both professional and personal, in which bringing a gift will show your respect towards the receiver and your knowledge of Japanese culture. 

The Tradition of Gift Giving 

The tradition of gift-giving in Japan dates back to the Edo period when those who went on pilgrimages brought gifts to the villagers who couldn’t go. Due to this custom, many gift shops around Japan specialize in tourist and souvenir gifts. The culture of gift-giving in Japan has some special customs to be aware of when choosing a gift for someone. 

Types of Gifts 

Omiyage 

Omiyage (お土産) is the Japanese word for “souvenirs” brought for friends, family, and business colleagues when you return from a trip. Consumable items like local snacks and drinks are popular choices for omiyage.

Each area of Japan specializes in its own produce. For example, Tochigi is famous for strawberries, so many of the omiyage in Tochigi have strawberry flavoring. They could also be handcrafted knick-knacks representing the place, such as local mascots, plushies, or keychains.  

Temiyage 

The word temiyage (手土産) is a combination of two words, Te (手), meaning hand, and Miyage (土産), meaning gift or souvenir. Temiyage are small gifts that you offer to someone when you meet them.

It’s not expected that you should bring back a gift for every person you know. However, it’s a nationwide custom that’s greatly appreciated, and the favor is often returned. Food and drinks often make the best temiyage, but any unique item would also make an excellent gift. 

Omiyage Vs. Temiyage

Temiyage is a gift as a token of thanks or appreciation, while omiyage is a souvenir when you return from a trip.

While both are small gifts, often food items, including beverages, the difference between Omiyage and Temiyage is that Omiyage is generally a specialty of the place where you went for the trip, while Temiyage is not place specific.

Other Gifts and Seasons of Gift-Giving 

In the West, gifts are usually given on a particular day or for a holiday. In Japan, however, there are times when you’ll likely find yourself receiving and giving more gifts than usual. These seasons are called ochugen (御中元)and oseibo (お歳暮)

Ochugen & Oseiboo

Ochugen means a mid-year gift in the summer from July 1st to the 15th.

People in Japan typically give gifts to people they appreciate and who are close to them. This could be anyone in your family, neighbors, or even your local doctor. This custom dates back to the start of Obon (お盆), a Buddhist custom about honoring ancestral spirits. 

Oseibo is during the winter in December. Although it’s recently been taken over by Christmas, many Japanese people still acknowledge this time for seasonal gift-giving. 

The gifts can be any item you feel the receiver would enjoy, but consumables often make the best gifts. 

Valentine’s Day and White Day in Japan

The culture for Valentine’s Day and White at the workplace is unique to Japan and comes as a big surprise to many foreigners who are new to Japan.

On Valentine’s Day, the female colleagues present their male colleagues with chocolates called “Giri-choco” (義理チョコ) or ‘courtesy chocolate’.

Please note that Giri-Choco is different from “Honmei-choco” (本命チョコ) or ‘chocolate of love,’ which is given as romantic gifts to your partners.

One month after that. i.e., on March 14^th, the male colleagues give return gifts to the female colleagues. 

Okaeshi 

Another gift-giving tradition in Japan is the custom of okaeshi (お返し). It simply means “to return” or “repay.” It’s a small and simple gift given to a person to show appreciation.  

Generally, Okaeshi is of similar value as the gifts received. However, sometimes, the return gift is three times the value of the received gift, and hence the term “sanbai gaeshi” (三倍返し), meaning ‘triple the return’ is used. 

One exception of Okaeshi is Omiyage. As mentioned earlier, Omiyage is a souvenir you offer when you return from a trip. The return gift or Okaeshi is only offered when the person receiving the gift goes on any trip.

Gift Giving Etiquette

The art of giving a gift is all about showing proper etiquette. In Japan, there are a few rules to consider when showing appreciation for someone through a gift. 

• Always give and receive gifs with both hands to show respect 
• When giving gifts, it’s customary for Japanese people to refuse at least twice before accepting. When receiving a gift, modestly refuse once or twice before accepting the gift. 
• Don’t open gifts in public if possible, as it could embarrass the giver. If possible, wait until you reach home.
• If you would like to give a gift to an individual rather than a whole group, try to do so privately so as not to pressure the receiver. 
• Giving gifts towards the end is best if you’re at a party. It’s also advisable not to push people to open the gifts. 
• Be careful about the pricing of a gift. Of course, don’t buy something cheap but if you choose something too expensive, you will burden the other person, so spend an equally expensive gift as the return gift. A good rule of thumb is to stay between ￥2,000 and ￥5,000 yen for colleagues. 
• Be mindful of the hierarchy among your colleagues. It would be best not to give your boss the same gift you give your co-workers. 

Presentation of Gifts

Gift-giving in Japan is more about the presentation than the actual gift.

When presenting a gift to someone, you should consider the packaging’s colors, wrapping paper, design, etc.

Japanese people often use a cloth to wrap their presents called furoshiki (風呂敷). It’s reusable and was traditionally used as a wrap for bather’s clothes at onsen (温泉) or hot springs baths during the Edo period. Due to the popularity of their use, they became useful for wrapping gifts.  

The color of your wrapping is also something to consider as well.

Some colors have symbolic meanings, and while many people will understand your lack of Japanese cultural knowledge, it’s always better to be on the safe side. Pastels are often the safest and best option when choosing colors. Bright colors might be too flashy if the person is very reserved, and dark colors could appear too somber. 

If you’re a newcomer to Japan and gift-giving, don’t stress too much about the details. While many Japanese understand these rules of etiquette, they’ll understand that foreigners will be unaware of them. What’s most important is to consider the person you’ll be exchanging gifts with and make sure they feel your appreciation. 

Conclusion

In summary, gift-giving in Japan involves respect, modesty, and careful consideration of presentation and context. It’s as much about how the gift is given and presented as it is about the gift itself​. To recap, it is crucial to consider the following points for gift-giving in Japan:

1. Respectful Handling: Gifts should be given and received with both hands to show respect.
2. Modesty in Acceptance: It is customary to refuse gifts modestly once or twice before accepting them.
3. Privacy in Opening: Gifts are preferably not opened in public to avoid embarrassing the giver.
4. Gift Selection and Timing: Consider giving gifts privately, especially if it’s for an individual rather than a group. Giving gifts towards the end is advisable at parties without pressuring recipients to open them.
5. Pricing Considerations: The cost of the gift should be moderate, neither too cheap nor too expensive, with a general guideline of staying between ¥2,000 and ¥5,000 for colleagues. Also, consider the hierarchy among colleagues when choosing gifts.
6. Presentation Over Content: The gift presentation, including the wrapping paper, design, and colors, is highly important. Furoshiki, a traditional Japanese cloth, is often used for wrapping.
7. Color Symbolism: The color of the gift wrapping should be chosen carefully, with pastels being a safe option. Bright colors might be too flashy, while dark colors could seem somber.
8. Understanding Cultural Differences: While these etiquette rules are important, many Japanese people understand that foreigners might not be aware of all these subtleties. The most crucial aspect is to make the recipient feel appreciated.