My brother’s company manager is female. She is very kind to my brother and her employees at their company. I’m visiting Japan next month, so I’d like to get her some good gifts to show my appreciation for her.
Godiva chocolates, especially a large box, are always appreciated. They’re expensive in Japan, more so than in the States. Good luck!
A good bourbon.
Chocolates are the way to go.
Generally speaking the Japanese concept of gift giving is to choose the most famous and stereotypical thing from wherever you’re from. Like, if you’re from Texas, think cowboy boots and steaks. New England? Think maple syrup or shellfish.
I heard Trader Joe’s bags are popular and expensive to buy out there.
Starbucks cups/tumblers. Starbucks in every country has different ones. My mom loves the American jumbo size (much bigger than Japanese tumblers) tumblers so I get one every time I go home. Or tumblers with your city or state on it!
Also Burt’s Bees. Expensive in Japan bc it’s an American brand. You can find 3-packs (lip balms) and small gift sets at Target & CVS. They make great souvenirs/gifts!
My host family loved the jam set I got them! And then I got them a whole bunch of NY merch, my host dad esp liked the metro shot glass, he even put it in his collection
I’ve found my Japanese friends love the old fashioned candies you get at Cracker Barrel and places like that.
Americana type stuff is appreciated (Nola wind chimes shaped like the manhole covers, Route 66 keychains, national park merch with the old fashioned artwork) because it’s exotic and cool.
For more professional business gifts a good bourbon will be a hit.
My Japanese family enjoys dried fruits from Trader Joe’s. They are kind of pricy in Japan. Especially dried cherries and wild blueberries are rare in Japan.
Something simple. Like one poster mentioned, nostalgic kind of items from a cracker barrel. Japanese love pancakes– the pancake mix my wife sometimes buys to take to her relatives there. Johnny Walker or an American Whisky (not Jim Beam– they own it). I bet a Harley T-Shirt would go over well. Pay attention to the sizes. Nothing large and probably, not medium. My wife has the most trouble trying to shop for clothes in the US. Most importantly, it is the thought that counts. They are all about “omotenashi” — or hospitality and mindfulness. Just the act of thinking about them they will never forget. Japan is such a great place in so many ways.
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Godiva chocolates, especially a large box, are always appreciated. They’re expensive in Japan, more so than in the States. Good luck!
A good bourbon.
Chocolates are the way to go.
Generally speaking the Japanese concept of gift giving is to choose the most famous and stereotypical thing from wherever you’re from. Like, if you’re from Texas, think cowboy boots and steaks. New England? Think maple syrup or shellfish.
I heard Trader Joe’s bags are popular and expensive to buy out there.
Starbucks cups/tumblers. Starbucks in every country has different ones. My mom loves the American jumbo size (much bigger than Japanese tumblers) tumblers so I get one every time I go home. Or tumblers with your city or state on it!
Also Burt’s Bees. Expensive in Japan bc it’s an American brand. You can find 3-packs (lip balms) and small gift sets at Target & CVS. They make great souvenirs/gifts!
My host family loved the jam set I got them! And then I got them a whole bunch of NY merch, my host dad esp liked the metro shot glass, he even put it in his collection
I’ve found my Japanese friends love the old fashioned candies you get at Cracker Barrel and places like that.
Americana type stuff is appreciated (Nola wind chimes shaped like the manhole covers, Route 66 keychains, national park merch with the old fashioned artwork) because it’s exotic and cool.
For more professional business gifts a good bourbon will be a hit.
My Japanese family enjoys dried fruits from Trader Joe’s. They are kind of pricy in Japan. Especially dried cherries and wild blueberries are rare in Japan.
Something simple. Like one poster mentioned, nostalgic kind of items from a cracker barrel. Japanese love pancakes– the pancake mix my wife sometimes buys to take to her relatives there. Johnny Walker or an American Whisky (not Jim Beam– they own it). I bet a Harley T-Shirt would go over well. Pay attention to the sizes. Nothing large and probably, not medium. My wife has the most trouble trying to shop for clothes in the US. Most importantly, it is the thought that counts. They are all about “omotenashi” — or hospitality and mindfulness. Just the act of thinking about them they will never forget. Japan is such a great place in so many ways.