Hi all!
My wife and I have been taking Japanese lessons for the past year or so. I’d like to get her something cool and Japanese-themed. She loves Japanese culture, owning more than a few cookbooks, lego sets, and a ton of anime trinkets.
Is there anything out there that you think might be really cool for someone like her?
17 comments
Studio Ghibli films
Stuff from studio ghibli merch?
Italki lesson hours! Forever perfect gift for Japanese learning! Your wife would be able to choose her tutor herself 🙂
My Japanese partner always complains about the size of my bowls and that they’re too small for ramen. So for Christmas I found a cool Japanese tablewares pottery dishes importer online and bought some really cool ramen bowls made by a Japanese craftsperson. Then I got too excited and bought some cool sushi plates, little rice bowls with cat faces, tiny little sugar pots. Hahah. I went overboard but it was fun.
How about a subscription to the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, with an expanded free trial where you can play through the entirety of A Realm Reborn and the award winning Heavensward expansion up to level 60 for free with no restrictions on playtime?
(sorry, I couldn’t resist)
Seriously though, this would be more of an experience than a physical present, but how about buying all the ingredients to a traditional Japanese dish for you two to make together?
Where I live, there’s a school that gives Japanese archery classes. Maybe there’s somewhere in or near your city that gives classes like that that she might enjoy?
If you’re looking for more like a physical present, I know LEGO came out with a bonzai tree, the aforementioned Ghibli films/merch might also be a good idea, if you’re a big spender, maybe a kimono or yukata?
I was going to suggest a kanzashi pin
https://japanobjects.com/features/kanzashi
Since they have some on amazon https://www.amazon.com/japanese-kanzashi/s?k=japanese+kanzashi
I think i usually see them with kimono but i think i see them too with other modern formalwear.
But then i came across this book and it looked neat. https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Fabric-Flowers-decorative-kanzashi/dp/1782212280/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?keywords=japanese+kanzashi&qid=1639599087&sr=8-11
If shes crafty and wants to make her own cute little things maybe shed like that.
“Night Parade of a Hundred Demons” is an awesome book of Yokai and Japanese folklore. I highly recommend it for Japanese culture fans.
I bought the manga Blue Period as Christmas gift for myself
Check out Musubi Kiln. It’s hand made stoneware and pottery from Japan. I just purchased a piece for my sensei who I take private lessons from and the quality is amazing. It ships quickly from Japan and you can get a wide variety of different things. I would LOVE if someone bought me something from here.
https://musubikiln.com/
If she’s a serious learner and making good progress – import some books in Japanese.
Otherwise, Japanese tea/teaware is always a good option.
An ereader with a Japanese dictionary preloaded could be cool.
Though be aware that getting Japanese books can be a real hassle.
For Amazon you need to provide a Japanese shipping address just to buy ebooks – though a proxy shipping service works.
For kobo you can just enter whatever as the address and it’ll let you buy ebooks.
In my country kobo ereaders arent available but kindle ones are, and removing the drm on the kobo ones is easier, so I ended up doing a multi step process of buy ebook->remove drm->convert to kindle compatible format->fail-> spend an hour on trial and error->figure out that send to kindle reconverts ebooks and adds extra formatting for no reason-> connect kindle via usb->load ebook->load external dictionary because the built in one sucks
A kimono if you can get one and she doesn’t mind wearing it in the west – some people get embarrassed. They work as good dressing gowns. Alternatively a good bonsai tree is safe.
Alternatively, the male gift would be a katana.
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I don’t know if it’s worthwhile or something that you or her would like, but what about one of those Japanese subscription boxes?? There’s a number of them, different prices and contents.
I forget the name of it, but there’s at least one that focuses on local specialities that are a little harder to come by and really bring the whole authenticity vibe in!
If she likes alcohol, a Japanese Whiskey can be fun! Last time I bought one as a gift I got a shot or two out of it and it was actually quite good. I plan on getting myself a bottle sometime soon. I find something like this creates an experience that you wouldn’t always think to get for yourself. A little taste of Japan. Alternatively Sake is also a great choice. Maybe both?
Just the first thing that came to my mind. It could be something your wife doesn’t use/want, and I am not sure if it is going to be delivered in time by Christmas, but I loved this shop of tenugui when I lived in Kyoto:
https://eirakuya.jp/tenugui1
I think that the website is in Japanese only, but you said that you study Japanese, so maybe your teacher can help you in secret, if you need it.
They have these “fabric towels” (tenugui) that you can use to decorate a table or you can hang, frame… I bought many for my family and relatives, and everyone is still using them.
There are so many kinds: traditional, modern, crazy, with maiko playing tennis or for a specific season.
Good quality yukata!