Job Discussion Forums

whitegodzilla · Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 12 Location: West Virginia/Japan

Hello Everybody...

This is my first post and hopefully not one that has been beaten to death. I am leaving in a couple weeks for a year of teaching with AEON and I was wondering what reasonably priced gifts to bring. I know that gift giving is an important part of Japanese culture. Are there certain items that are hard to find in Japan that my employers, students and friends would really appreciate? Thanks for all of your time.

TWG

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Coffee is popular here
Maple sugar if you're Cdn
Something from your home country

It's not really necessary to bring gifts when you are starting a new job. If there is someone who helped you get the job, than a gift is appropriate. Something for your boss would be nice, but not expected. I brought my boss 1 kg of specialty coffee beans and another boss a nice photo book on the Rocky Mountains in Canada.

We had this same topic last year, so if you do a search, you should find it.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

I brought piles of gifts from Canada (just little stuff) -- like what Gordon said....

To be perfectly honest, you won't have much need nor opportunity to give them away like you think you might... They come in handy if someone invites you over for supper, or does you a big favour, or whatever....

Generally speaking, I just do the "Japanese thing" and buy Omiyage (regional souvenirs) when I travel around Japan -- they are gifts for the Kocho-Sensei and Kyoto Sensei.... And my Chado Sensei usually gets one too... But when I worked for an eikaiwa it was a different story.

Now on that note, here's a story for you. I must admit that the carton of Rothman cigarettes I brought from home (that's what I was told to buy for going to Japan).... came in MIGHTY handy. See, at the company BBQ, everyone had a few drinks, and my wife decided that it would be funny to give Kocho-sensei (an older, serious business-type) the Gatorade treatment with a huge cooler full of ice water. The photo I got was priceless, and her moxy has become legend at the school (the day someone had enough chutzpah to drench Kocho from head to toe in ice-water)... At the time he took it all in stride, but we later found out he was a bit P.O.ed by the affair.... So to atone for that, we gave him the carton of cigs from home (he chain-smokes) Wink

But y'know, I think that's the best $40 I ever spent in my life!!! After that we had a few chats with him and he was friendly enough when he spoke to us.... And in the end he gave me a really nice letter of recommendation when I left the company, so I guess it was all good. Now don't all you kiddies go trying this now, ya hear?

P.S. A bottle of Canadian (or Irish or wherever you're from) whiskey or similar hooch might go a LONG way to curry favor with someone, if you need to do something like that. Among businessmen, that would be a respected gift I would think.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If you plan to bring any form of sweets (candy or cookies or cakes), make sure they are individually wrapped.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Jim, you dumped a cooler full of ice water on your Japanese boss? You do have guts. I can't say I've done that before.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Well... Like I say... It's not me that had the guts -- it was my wife.... Scary part is -- I had a few beers but she was stone, cold sober! Wink

whitegodzilla · Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 12 Location: West Virginia/Japan

Hey thanks everybody.

Since I am an American from the Appalachian mountains, I will probably bring some local sweets/crafts and maybe a carton of Marlboro's (although I don't smoke) and some local bourbon that can't be found anywhere else. More than a gift, the bourbon may last longer if I keep it at home and offer a glass to visitors.

I appreciate all the advice, but I'm not sure I'm going to "Gatorade" my branch manager any time soon Very Happy

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Your plan is mostly good.... But as for the smokes -- the only reason I brought em was because I was told you couldn't buy Rothmans in Japan... At least not easily (I don't smoke either)... But don't waste your $$ bringing Malboros, as every corner vending machine here sells em....

As a general rule, try to stick with products you couldn't usually get in Japan and you'll do fine.

Good luck....

JD

P.S. The bourbon is a great idea. Mmmmm.... Bourbon....

whitegodzilla · Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 12 Location: West Virginia/Japan

Thanks for the heads up on the Marlboros.

I know lots of small batches of bourbon that would work, but are there any cigarettes or cigars that aren't ready available besides those ones mentioned (which were Canadian I believe)

Thanks,

TWG

Experienced · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 18

Here's a novelty gift...try a bottle of mead (honey wine). This drink is growing in popularity in the USA, especially west of the Missis. River. But it's virtually unknown in Japan. The Japanese love to drink alcohol, so it would be a big hit.

www.aboutmead.com

whitegodzilla · Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 12 Location: West Virginia/Japan

Good idea, Experienced!

I've actually made mead before.... I wonder if you can take moonshine with you on international flights, or homebrews for that matter.

TWG

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Re: hooch. Moonshine/homebrew/etc... Probably NOT..... But I wouldn't sweat it too much.

If your home-hooch is professionally bottled/labelled, ain't no one gonna tell the diff.... (I used to make my own wine and recycling centres where I'm from don't accept homebrew bottles... But mine were professionally labelled (in French and English -- being in Canada) and no one even batted an eye when I got my deposit refund.... heh....

(Again, I digress). But what I mean to say, is if you pour the stuff into a commercial bottle, that would prob. be OK..... I mean, I got back an entire bottle of moonshine from the Czech Republic (100 proof slivovice) plum brandy -- it was clear in color, so it just went as an Evian mineral water bottle in my carry-on bag.... Wink

As far as smokes go.... That's really tough to say -- Japan can import pretty much anything they want, although some are harder to get or more expensive than others. For example, as far as cigars go, you won't have any trouble getting Cubans here.... Something most Americans can't get so readily. Otherwise, I dunno.... Do you have any local brands? Don't they grow tobacco in your neck of the woods?

P.S. I've made mead too... (I used to be an active SCA member)... Wink

Unfortunately my wife ahted the stuff and accused it of tasting like Timothy Grass... (What do farm girls know about mead, anyway? Sheesh!)

whitegodzilla · Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 12 Location: West Virginia/Japan

Jim,

Mead is lovely stuff. Actually to be honest they grow more dope than tobacco in West Virginia but I KNOW that is a big NO NO in Japan so we'll forget that as omiyage. The nice thing is that in these hills there are a lot of brands that you can't even get in Ohio, so I think that even a mid price local bourbon will probably seem like a huge treat to a Japanese. I think I'll forget the smokes. I don't really smoke myself so it doesn't make much sense. Another thought is Perry (Pear Wine) I bet that would be revered in Japan as well. 3 bottles is the customs limit, I believe....

TWG

Experienced · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 18

A batch of pear mead is currently in my fermentor. I expect it to be quite tasty.

Perry? Is there a website where I can order some of this stuff?

whitegodzilla · Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 12 Location: West Virginia/Japan

Experienced,

True to your name, you may know more about this than me. I think that it is a certain type of pear or just a generic name for pear wine. I drank it once and I know there are contests for the best in the world etc.... but we are getting way off topic. Maybe we should start a homebrewing message board.

TWG