Food and drink serves as one of the most popular gifts in Japan, especially for small-scale gift-giving occasions such as Oseibo and Okaeshi. Popular food and drink gifts include confectionery, cakes, teas, spirits and teas.
In most countries when visiting someone's home for the first time, it's customary to bring a basket of fruit, a bottle of wine, or a dessert. Japan is no different. When arriving at a Japanese home, bringing along a small gift, called omiyage in Japanese, of snacks or fruit will be much appreciated.
When receiving a gift, your first action should not be to take the package, but to decline the offering with politeness. Once or twice will suffice, at which time you can receive the gift with both hands and respond by saying “thank you very much” or in Japanese: “arigatō gozaimasu” (ありがとうございます).
Gift-giving serves an important function in Japanese culture as not only a way to show appreciation, but as a way to strengthen and maintain relationships, and in some cases, show closeness or fondness for another.
Food and drink serves as one of the most popular gifts in Japan, especially for small-scale gift-giving occasions such as Oseibo and Okaeshi. Popular food and drink gifts include confectionery, cakes, teas, spirits and teas.
In Japan, some of the core values are thinking of others, doing your best, not giving up, respecting your elders, knowing your role, and working in a group. These concepts are taught explicitly and implicitly from nursery school into the working world.
Arigatou on its own is a simple, somewhat casual “thank you.” That said, most people prefer doumo arigatou or arigatou gozaimasu as their standard way of saying thanks, because both of those phrases are more polite than arigatou on its own.
Every where in Japan people bow to show respect to all people. The lower they bow the more respect they have for the person specially if the person is a high official. People bow upon greeting and upon leaving. Respect is highly practiced and regarded in Japan.
Bowing (Ojigi) The act of bowing (ojigi) is a common part of daily life in Japan. The etiquette of bowing contains many intricate rules that depend on factors such as the context, social status and age of the person. Generally, bowing is a mark of respect and emphasises social rank between people.
Sake sets, bowls, matcha bowls, dishes, mugs, cups, teapots, plates and the like are popular homeware souvenirs to buy in Japan. I especially love these hand-crafted mugs I purchased at a small family-run store in Kyoto.
People nearly always bring a gift when visiting another person's home (see Gift Giving below for appropriate gifts). Hosts usually indicate to guests where to sit when they enter a room. The most important guest is offered the most honoured seat (kamiza), which is the seat furthest from the entrance.
Okaeshi - a thank you gift
This part of Japanese gift-giving etiquette also has its own name: okaeshi. These thank you gifts are expected to be worth around half the value of the original gift, and typically include alcohol, sweets, or small household related items.
Pointing at people or things is considered rude in Japan. Instead of using a finger to point at something, the Japanese use a hand to gently wave at what they would like to indicate. When referring to themselves, people will use their forefinger to touch their nose instead of pointing at themselves.
Do not address other people using their first names. In Japan, you do not address other people by using their first names like how things usually are in the Western world. That is not considered polite, especially if you are talking to a superior, someone older than you, or someone you meet for the first time.
Oseibo gifts often involve sweets, snacks, fruits, alcohol, or household products. However, many younger Japanese prefer to give a more Westernized Christmas gift to a friend instead of getting wrapped up in the obligatory nature of Oseibo gift giving culture.
It's customary for Japanese women to profess their love through honmei choco, ornate handmade chocolates or expensive boxes of sweets. Women will also, sometimes begrudgingly, gift male coworkers with mini boxes of giri choco, or obligatory chocolates.
Bowing is an essential part of Japanese custom to show respect, thanking, greeting or apology. In stead of shaking hands, we bow, and it depends on time and people how long and deep you bow.
Arigato gozaimasu! / Thank you!
This is a polite way of saying "thank you". While traveling in Japan, this is probably the most basic "thank you" phrase you'll be using.
Japanese people always display modesty and humility. People often bow to convey the message: “I am not above you. I respect you.” Bowing longer with a higher degree of angle means more respect. Additionally, Japanese people have two religions at the same time: they are both Buddhist and Shintoist.
Harmony, order, and self-development are three of the most important values that underlie Japanese social interaction. Basic ideas about self and the nature of human society are drawn from several religious and philosophical traditions.
Family (kazoku) is a foundational part of Japanese society. An individual's identity, reputation, obligations and responsibilities are deeply connected to their family. Japanese family structures have been influenced by Confucian ideas of filial piety and defined hierarchical social relationships over the centuries.
Naki Sumo – The crying baby festival
This baby crying competition involves two sumo wrestlers each holding up a baby each. The referee then puts on scary masks in attempts to make the babies cry. The loudest and longest crier is declared the winner. This 400 year old tradition is said to keep the babies in good health!