**This is not related to me moving. I’ve lived here two years.**
I live in an inaka area and my neighbors/friends give me gifts constantly, usually of the garden vegetable variety. My neighbors give me hand made onigiri, fresh vegetables, side dishes, home grown rice, flowers, candy, ice cream, jelly, fruit, all sorts of food stuff. I’ve also received some decorations, bags, kimono, and traditional parasols. Of course I am very grateful for all of this and thank them profusely.
Generally speaking, when someone gives you a gift in Japan, it’s good manners to give something in return, but I’m not sure what good options are. My garden is tiny so I don’t have enough vegetables to give them, most of my cooking is of the Asian variety but there is no way I make food as good as they can, I don’t know if they would even like American food, giving them local foods doesn’t really work because they also live here, and I’m not really sure what someone in my situation is expected to give them.
I’ve given homemade banana bread, candy canes, chocolates, and American post cards as return gifts, but I was wondering if anyone else had ideas. I do like cooking, but have food allergies so I always worry my food tastes weird to other people (gluten free, so no flour or soy sauce, gluten free food famously can taste a little odd to non-gluten free people). Additionally, my American recipes don’t always go over well with a Japanese audience, with many people commenting my pumpkin cake was too sweet despite using less sugar than the recipe called for. So far my most successful dish was cheese stuffed bacon-wrapped dates.
I’ve received so much so I want to get better at giving back, I’m just not sure what the best options are. Anyone have any ideas?
9 comments
Do you travel to the US more or less regularly? If so I’d say bring something from there that is not widely available in Japan – there’s a bewildering array of candy, for example, but also preserves, wine, spice mixes, plus of course whatever is local to where you’re traveling (like cheese in Wisconsin or maybe smoked / pickled peppers / hot sauces in Arizona, etc.)
If you travel within Japan, try to get the local thing wherever you go – grapes from Yamanashi, Yatsuhashi and Tsukemono from Kyoto, Apples from Aomori, you know the drill. These things always go over well. It’s mostly the thought that counts, anyway.
Every time I visit my home country, I bring back a batch of long-lasting candy and snacks for such occasions.
For vegetables and fruits specifically, I try to use some of what I get to make a batch of a local dish and share it. Fruits can easily be turned into jams or candied. I’ll often use summer vegetables for ratatouille or similar dishes, and winter ones for gratins and oven recipes.
Make this, ideally with some of their vegetables (i think it’s gluten free?)
Make a small batch first until you get it down, then make a large batch and give it to them in Daiso tupperware.
https://www.thespruceeats.com/vegetarian-indian-mixed-vegetables-subji-3378480
I think you’re doing fine. Little cookies from wherever your JET conferences are (you don’t have to eat them). Sending postcards is kind of a lost art, so that might be a nice surprise — a postcard from America! Or wherever your travels take you.
You might look up some recipes for Japanese hot drinks (American ones are almost always too sweet) and put them in a canning jar with a pretty ribbon & the recipe for making it in English & Japanese. Dried ginger and lemon peel. Or cocoa mix with tiny marshmallows.
Since you are nearing the end of your stay there, next time you go to the US, have some custom pencils made up. Maybe with your town name? “I ❤️ Inakamura!” Or your name, or something funny.
Holiday towels, especially ones that work all year, like Valentine heart ones, would be useful & traditional. Oh, and the corny little Valentine cards should be out on American store shelves as soon as Christmas is over.
It really is the thought that counts.
You don’t need to wait on a visit back home. If you travel to another town get them something. I gave my neighbor something from Costco the other day
If they’re flooding you, just accept them all then make a singular thank you gift at an appropriate time. Don’t get caught up in tit-for-tat giving, you can’t match them.
I am from Argentina, so whenever I see Argentinean wines I stock them, and I give them to my neighbors when I have to give back any presents.
I also cook some desserts and bring them over to them as well as I already adjusted to a more Japanese palladar (not so sweet).
Another option is if you buy something in bulk that is not normal for them to grow in their gardens, you could give them some (when I received a big box of fancy grapes from my aunt, I gave a some to my neighbor). AAAND any time I get something Japanese I know I wont like, you know where it will go… I am not gifting to my parking space landlord LOL.
I also gave the cat food or litter our cats refuse to a neighbor who has a cat… super rando stuff but they seem to like it. And yes, whenever you travel, bring whatever it is not too heavy and wont expire too fast, and give them not only as omiyage when you return but make sure you have in stock for future giving
Christmas cookies. Like traditional where you are from cookies if you can. I’ve done this many years and my friends love them because it’s a nice treat but also something American.
I make spritzes, krumkake, ginger snaps, sugar cookies, cherry winks, coconut macaroons and a toffee. I’ve had people come to my office and ask if I’m bringing cookies in again.
My in-laws are really keen on sweets so we have brought American whiskey that you don’t see here and once vodka from Hawaii (specifically made with sugar cane). Just the smaller bottles but they were well received.
My neighbor loves the flower bulbs I get them. Amaryllis is now on sale, in a few months tulip bulbs. Also much appreciated was bar soap I brought back from Greece, tea and expensive honey.