Hey! I just moved to Fukuoka and rented my first home in Japan!
I am here on a 定住者 visa (my wife is 日系人). I have this dear Japanese friend of mine who offered to be our guarantor for both our visa AND to help sealing the contract with the real estate guarantor company. I wouldn’t be in Japan right now, nor I would have found a house, if it wasn’t for this friend, who’s been very patient and kind during a several months-long process.
I feel I should make this man a statue. However, I am a lousy sculptor, therefore I should go for plan B and offer him a thank-you gift instead. Of course, I want to have a long lasting friendship with him and his family, so there will be plenty of occasions to celebrate and have a memorable time together.
In the short term, I am thinking that perhaps I could send him a basket with some food items and/or alcohol, something like that.
What you think would be an appropriate gift? We don’t live in the same city so I would have to send it by post/Amazon (or wait until we meet again in person at some point). He’s in his late 30s, I know him well enough, but obviously this is the first time I am in this situation, so I thought of asking for advice.
Thanks!
[edit: some grammar / shorten message]
10 comments
Fruits, expensive fruits .
You know him best. What does he enjoy?
Does he have a particular hobby?
Is there something he loves to eat?
For the family that’s sponsoring me, I’m inviting them over in a few weeks for wagyu yakiniku. You could send him wagyu.
You could always take him to a really nice restaurant and treat him. One of those sit down sushi places or like teppanyaki style steak places. Don’t cheap out though.
Food baskets will be great! How about getting them at some *hyakkaten* like Mitsukoshi? Many Japanese consider a gift to be of high value by virtue of the fact it was purchased in a prestige *hyakkaten.*
Japanese seem to prize local, purposely gift-made foods. Fukuoka must have loads to choose from. If in doubt, get a variety basket.
Get him a teapot set. Or a gift card at Yodabashi with some fruits if he’s into electronics.
A nice bottle of whiskey. I recommend Yamazaki or Hibiki. Nothing below 12 years.
Does he drink Whisky or Sake? I always find that a great gift. I just gifted my house builder (carpenter) with a nice bottle of real Japanese whisky, because he’s done an amazing job, and he’s a whisky drinker.
Make him a statue of Napoleon