EASC Study Tour 2003: Topic of the Week #2

omiyage (pronounced oh-me-yah-geh): Gifts/Souvenir
by Mary Hayes

Bring These | Gift Ideas | Tips
TOW Main | Study Tour 2003 Home

After having been on vacation, or during cross-cultural business dealings, or while visiting someone, it is customary in Japanese culture to give a small gift to those close to you, or to those who have helped (or will help) you. During the study tour, we will be assisted and hosted by a number of people in Japan. During last year's study tour, our group presented a number of gifts to local officials, guides and others helping with the planning of the tour. Likewise, this summer we all will need to bring a few gifts to Japan. This list is to help you begin thinking about gifts. We will discuss gifts in more detail at orientation. Feel free to suggest or try out ideas on the group email.

You will need to bring the following:
· Gifts for your homestay family (we will find out later whether your host family has children, their ages, etc.).
· 1 nice item that would be appropriate to present to a school, principal, tour guide, etc. on behalf of the group. Among us, we will have 9 items that we can present to various people along the way. Suggested items include coffee table books about your state or scenic areas, local craft/art items, handmade crafts, etc.
· Optional: your students' creations (drawings, haiku-poems, etc.) that can be presented to schools as part of cultural exchange
Be aware! You will be responsible for carrying your gifts in your own luggage. Because some the gifts won't be needed until the end of the trip, you may be carrying your gift for most of your trip. Pack accordingly!

Ideas for gifts for homestay family
A friend and I tried to remember all of the things we've taken to Japan as gifts in past years. Some gifts are small and were used in combination with others. One recommendation: buy sets of things that you can split up and give as individual items. Don't hesitate to suggest other ideas to us. We'll add them to the list. We can talk more about ideas at orientation.

  • Votive candles (esp. funky or aromatic ones)
  • Nice suncatchers
    I took some Monet-inspired ones available through Boston Museum of Art. I bought them as a set of four and split the set.
  • Local specialties (for Indiana - Indy 500 items, apple butter from Nashville, coffee table book with photos of state, landscapes, etc.)
  • T-shirts (Old Navy: cheap!)
  • Tea, especially herbal
    Last summer I bought a box of 27 assorted tins of tea from Republic of Tea and gave tea to everyone. The box of 27 is about $100, so this would be a good thing to go in on with another person. Search "Gift items" at their website. Note from Mayumi: Although Japan boasts of a wide variety of unique beverages sold there, fruit-flavored green tea is almost unheard of--people may like those! Also check out Republic of Tea's "Samplers," small packages of tea leaf, which cost $2 - 4 each. Some people may prefer loose tea over tea bags.
  • Cute decorative items (Hallmark, etc.)
  • Foodstuffs - cookies, nut mixes, nice candies (no chocolate - it will melt).
    I took interesting trail mixes from Trader Joe's supermarket last summer. Altoids cinnamon variety are also popular.
  • Calendars (of 2004)
  • Picture frames
  • Anything with the logo from your schools: folders, pencils, etc.
  • Anything that can be used in classroom (for teachers and schools): U.S. maps, state maps, books written in easy English, illustrated books, photograph collections, art books, simple games, DVD/videos, CDs/tapes with stories or songs in easy English, etc.

    Tips (some from participants of last study tour)

  • Angelique (2002): "Wrapped gifts are not going over very well at airports since 9/11; they have been making people unwrap them before boarding. My suggestion--pack gift bags and tissue to wrap the gifts in when we get there. This is a very American way to wrap anyway. "

  • Kris (2002): "I have found that bringing the bags and tissue with makes for easier packing as well--plus the packages look nicer. A side note: I found that presentation is valued highly. A good excuse to shop for some really pretty papers/bags/ribbon/etc."

  • Libby (2002): "Here are a few suggestions for gifts that create connections but also are free. 1) Ask your school for items (pens, shirts, etc.). I have found that the overseas schools I have visited have really liked items from my school. 2) Ask your local town for items. Again it creates community connections."

    Bring These | Gift Ideas | Tips
    TOW Main | Study Tour 2003 Home

    Last updated: 3/18/03
    URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~easc/study_tour/2003/accepted/
    Comments: easc@indiana.edu
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