Sorry about the ASAP, but I don’t want to take too long on this.
So basically, I went to Hakone, and I had little candies when I returned. But I made a huge mistake and didn’t know how many teachers there were. 4 teachers plus the admin staff didn’t get the sweets. Its a problem because its a big deal that I went to Hakone. All the teachers want to talk about it.
My fix is to give the teachers who didn’t get them large candy bars, and I want to apologize that I ran out. But I don’t know Japanese culture. Would I be rude for doing such?
“Sorry I didn’t bring anything back for you specifically, I ran out. but here’s a candy bar. I bought it at Torisen.”
I am just saying it that way for this post, but I’d actually be sorry and apologize profusely. I’d ask them to take the candy bar and I would bring something back for everyone next time.
Please let me know if this is rude. Seriously, I need help before tomorrow morning. Sadly, I kind of like one of the teachers that I didn’t give one to. I was going to give her one and someone else, not one but I was going in a line… :/
The candy bar is much bigger and costs much more but I don’t want to be rude. Honestly, if it were the states and someone told me, “Hey, I brought back candy for everyone… but here’s a candy bar because I ran out” I wouldn’t care and I’d say thank you. At least they tried. But this isn’t the States.
Thanks in advance. This is very important to me. Yes, I am a foreigner. No I am not in ‘the system’ as a certain goomba called it, but I DO want to be kind to these awesome coworkers. Thanks in advance!
11 comments
I can’t comment here but all the places I worked at in the last 6 years couldn’t give two $#!+s about souvenirs. Whenever someone had souvenirs, they just tossed it all onto the coffee counter and it was just a free for all. No more, didn’t get one? then tough beans.
How could you? You should be deported from Japan for this!!!
If you’re really worried, you can buy omiyage on Amazon or Rakuten etc. and give them that?
Lol. This is not a troll post, right? Life is too short.
Ah, just buy some chocolate boxes they sell in those Cozy Corner stores? They are like 1000y and looks pretty good.
I wouldn’t do the candy bar thing unless it looks like it’s from your trip. Do you have access to omiyage stores tonight or before you meet them? Can you avoid seeing the teachers you stiffed until you get some replacements? Can you tell the teacher you have the hots for that you have 箱根 beer or sake and don’t wanna give it to her at school?
In the future, it’s best to by one box of treats and put it in a common area.
FYI, not sure where you are based at or when you need to deliver your omiyage, but there is a store in Tokyo Station that sells Omiyage from all over Japan.
I can understand the panic, Japanese people actually expect you to bring them a souvenir…I don’t bother anymore, except for maybe close friends.
Fresh in my company I brought all kinds of candies from my home country where they sat on a counter untouched for weeks. Noticed after other souvenirs suffered the same fate so I never got any for the office ever again
Seriously worrying about not having enough omiyage and then getting more some candy to apologize for it is something the obasan who loves gossiping (every office has one) would do.
Let me preface this by saying you are a very kind, and generous person. However, you did not need to hand out omiyage.
When I receive omiyage with a note I don’t even bother to read, I usually chuck into the file cabinet, and let nature do the rest. I don’t care who it came from, I don’t care to taste it, I don’t want it on my desk.
I’m sure I’ve pissed off my fair share of faculty members this way.
Where I work, the Japanese teachers come to sit at their desk, and when they find an omiyage, they inquire as to who left it, and immediately call them on the phone to thank them for it all while bowing, and doing hand gestures via the PHONE LOL!
l’m not doing any of that, for one… It looks weird, and it’s a hassle. There’s Omiyage every day. It’s a never ending nightmare.
Omiyage is a blight on my work experience in Japan.
My worst Omiyage memory came from the school nurse. She started doling out energy drinks once a week for everyone in the staff room. How inappropriate is that? Especially, considering we were a JHS. What example was this woman trying to set, and what message was she trying to convey?
Eff that noise, I drank my coffee in her face.
P.S. Omiyage cannot be used as a bribe for when you do something bad, nor can it be used as collateral if ever you goof. it’s a normal custom expected of Japanese, just like snitch culture. The brownie points from that mochi won’t do you anything, in fact, they don’t even exist in this situation. You will still be snitched on regardless of how many exotic pieces of sugar you give.