Gift Giving

In Japanese culture, it’s customary to offer your host family a gift, or give a gift when coming to someone’s house for dinner or special occasions. The gift giving tradition can be intricate, and it’s necessary to have a basic grasp of this custom when interacting with the locals.

Japanese Gifts: Omiyage and Meibutsu

The most popular type of gift is known as the omiyage, a gift that represents a place the giver came from or travelled to recently. For instance, if you just got back from China, a nice gift that represents that place is highly appreciated. Some of the most popular omiyage items include chocolates, candies, wine, rice crackers, fruits, and other alcoholic beverages.

The same principle holds for those who travel within the country. Meibutsu refers to a prized item from a specific Japanese region. Most cities and towns in Japan have their own specialty. If you’ve been in Japan long enough, someone may ask you what your town’s meibutsu is. So when you travel within the country, be sure to pick up a meibutsu or two that you can give to your host family or friends.

Japanese Gift Giving Tips

There are two popular gift-giving seasons: chugen (中元) and seibo. Chugen is for the winter season and seibo is for summer. The Japanese give gifts to friends, especially those who have helped in the past. Gifts don’t have to be costly. In fact, a lot of people feel embarrassed giving expensive gifts and could feel bad expecting them. The art is in the giving, not just the gift itself. The best gifts are still the meaningful ones that build a deeper connection between giver and recipient. Note these gift giving tips while in Japan.

Place the gift item in a shopping bag. This keeps it out of sight until you present it. But be sure to wrap your gift as well; don’t just toss it in the bag.

Present the gift in in the living room area. When you hand your friend the gift, say “Tsumaranai mono desu ga...” This means “this is boring but…,” expressing modesty. But in corporate settings, avoid such phrase, as it shows insignificance and belittles the worth of the recipient. Instead, use the phrase “Honno o shirushi de gozaimasu ga...” which means “This is a token of my appreciation, but…” as it shows gratitude to the recipient.

Do not offer gifts with the numbers 4 and 9 as they represent death. Don’t give four pieces of a thing. It’s best to go for a pair, which is considered lucky.

Do not give the same gifts to unequal individuals. Social rank is important and prominent in Japan. If you give a bottle of sake to a businessman, do not give the same gift to his boss.

Expect the recipient to reject the gift, and continue to offer it. In Japanese culture, it is polite to turn down a gift *twice* before accepting it.

Another unique Japanese custom is for ladies to offer chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day. The woman may offer chocolate to a man she admires or, of course, to her partner (giri choko / 義理チョコ /, or obligation chocolate).

Whenever you visit a Japanese household, don’t forget these gift giving tips. And consider carrying over something of their essence in your life back to your country. Even a small gift—sometimes especially a small gift, if it’s heartfelt and original—can convey much thoughtfulness and good will, anywhere in the world.

A Happy New Year In China

Do you know what day it is today (January 23rd) ?? It's Lunar New Year in China !!
It's for 1st of January in the Lunar calendar.
From 23rd to 25th, they celebrate it by shooting fireworks, beating drums, exploding firecrackers and so on.
They also have so many performances on streets wearing Chinese dress, dancing with Dragon shaped something.
Especially the fireworks are held on a much larger scales than those of Japan.
 


People go back to their houses and spend these days with their families.
That's the same as Japanese New Year days.
But, look at these pictures !! These are the situation people are waiting for buying train tickets.
And inside the train, people are sitting on the aisle.
Japanese rush on the platforms is also crazy, but this is more.
 

And even in Japan, at Yokohama Chinese town, people celebrate it, too.
Many events are held there as if there was real China !!
 
They will have special dishes on these days.
As we Japanese have Osechi Ryori, they have their own Osechi Ryori.
It depends on their home and where they live.
One of the important things is, rice cake, there are some kinds, triangle, stick type and etc...
But the common meanings they have are to be rich and to have good luck in the year.
 

These celebrations last at least for 3 days.
When you have a chance, why don't you go to China and experience their most important day ?

By: Tomoyuki (Asakusa)

Japanese Fairy Tale: Animal Competition For Eto (Chinese Astrology)

Do you know we have twelve Eto in each year ?
Eto is called Junishi (十二支), and they are all animals.

They are 子 (ne; Mouse), 丑 (ushi; Cow), 寅 (tora; Tiger), 卯 (u; Rabbit), 辰 (tatsu; Dragon), 巳 (mi; Snake), 午 (uma; Horse), 未 (hitsuji; Sheep), 申 (saru; Monkey), 酉 (tori; Hen), 戌 (inu; Dog), and 亥 (i; Wild boar).

Do you wonder why are these animals ??
We have a fairy tale for that reason.

Once upon a time, at the end of a year, The God told all of animals like this. "Come to see me in the morning of the New Year (Jan 1st), and I will let the first 12 animals be the symbol animals of the year in order."
Each animal was excited about that, but a cat forgot when he should go to see the God. He asked it to Mouse, and he lied, "You should go on the second of January." Cat trusted Mouse completely and went back home to sleep.

In the morning of 1st of Jan, Cow departed his house at midnight. "I am the slowest animal, so I have to depart much earlier than any." Mouse was listening to it on the ceiling and rode on the head of Cow slyly. When Cow arrived at the gate of the place where the God was, no one had arrived yet.

Cow was about to greeting the God, but Mouse got off from his head and greeted at first. As a result, Mouse greeted at first, then secondly Cow. And continued trot Tiger and Rabbit, Dragon, Snake who crawled on ground, Horse and Sheep. Dog and Monkey fought on the way to go, and Hen came with stopping them together. Though Wild boar came before Tiger, he couldn't stop himself and passed the gate.

Finally, the order they arrived was Mouse, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Hen, Dog, and Wild boar. The God told them to protect humans from evil things of the years.

On the other hand, Cat knew that he had been deceived by Mouse after this competition. He got really angry, and had a grudge against Mouse. It is said that this is the origin Cats chase mice now.

By: Tomoyuki (Asakusa)

Happy New Year!!!

Wow, I hope you had a great New Year's Eve!

Now it's really the year 2012! ^^
Time runs by so fast, don't you think so, too?
This day, January the 1st, is really special and important for Japanese people!

It's called Ganjitsu and there are many traditional things happening on this day. Ganjitsu is a very auspicious day on which many people strive to be up in time to greet the rising sun. This is called hatsu-hinode.

When you see someone the first time in the New Year, you should say "akemashite-omedetou-gozaimasu" (Happy New Year) whenever they see at the first time in the new year. ^^

And there is a custom of giving money to children during New Year's holidays in Japan. It's called otoshidama (お年玉). It is handed out in small decorated envelopes called Pochibukuro. So if you are going to family gatherings, it's good to prepare some money in cute Pochibukuro.^^

Japanese people eat special dishes called osechi. The box, in which they are packed, is called a Jubako box and has several layers. Each dish has a particular meaning. Prawns for long life, herring roe for fertility, and so on.

It is also traditional to eat mochi (rice cake) dishes during New Year's holidays. Zouni (rice cake soup) is the most popular mochi dish.

A very popular custom is the sending of New Year's cards, which are specially marked to be delivered on January 1st. They are called Nengajo and you can read everything about that here! ^^
It is not uncommon for one person to send out several dozens of cards to friends, relatives and co-workers.
And today - since midnight - many people visit a shrine or temple for Hatsumōde, the first shrine or temple visit of the New Year in Japan is called. Sensoji is really crowded and there are many people outside, going there for Hatsumōde.

When you are wandering along Asakusa today, you can see many Kadomatsu, which are placed at the entrance of houses. Comprised of pine boughs (symbolising longevity), bamboo stalks (prosperity) and plum-tree sprigs (constancy), they are set up as an invitation to the god of the year, the toshigami (protector of household prosperity) to come in and bless the home.

Shimenawa, you can find, too. They marked sacred places and are a specially plaited rope (nawa) festooned with strips of white paper (shime) symbolising purity. They are meant to keep away evil spirits. During Ganjitsu, shimenawa are often hung on the doors of homes and businesses.

So, you see, there are many things, with long and deep traditions, you may not know from your country.
Really different!
So if you are curious now, it may be a good idea to visit Japan this time of the year! ^^
But first, enjoy your Ganjitsu! ^^

By: Vanessa (Asakusa)

New Year's Eve In Japan

This day is the last day of the year 2011. ^^
Something magical is in the air and everyone can feel it! ^^
So, how do the Japanese celebrate New Year's Eve?

This last day of the year is called Ōmisoka (大晦日) and is a preparation day to welcome toshigami (年神), the new year's god. It's the second important day of the year for Japanese people (New Year's Day tomorrow is the most important one ^^)!
An important Japanese end-of-year custom is Oosoji which means extensive cleaning. So people clean their home...like we do oosoji at our hostel! ^^ But we're all in great mood! ^^
Around 11:00 pm on Ōmisoka at home, people often gather for one last time in the old year to have a bowl of toshikoshi-soba (年越しそば) or toshikoshi-udon (年越しうどん) together - a tradition based on people's association of eating the long noodles with "crossing over from one year to the next,". So eating this "New Year's Eve Noodles" is very common.

Traditionally, families make Osechi (おせち) for new year day because cooking during the first 3 days of the new year is not a good thing for Kami of kitchens. But nowadays, most of families buy Osechi or cook ordinary dishes.

At midnight, when the New Year begins, in all Buddhist temples over Japan their large cast bell is struck once for each of the 108 earthly desires believed to cause human suffering. This tradition is called joya no kane (除夜の鐘) which means "bell rings on new year eve's night." So at midnight, many people visit a shrine or temple for Hatsumōde (初詣).

Here in Japan it's unusual, to have big fireworks or some big party celebration, so the people celebrate traditional and quiet with their families.
The New Year's celebration is not over after midnight. January, the 1st is a National Holiday and most of the people have off until January the 4th. So post offices and banks, for example, are closed.
For Japanese, as you can see, New Year's Eve is very traditional (for me, it's really complex, to understand all of this traditions) and an absolute really important day for families.

So how do you celebrate New Year's Eve in your home country?
I hope, you will have a great New Year's Eve and of course a great New Year 2012!

All your wishes should come true and all the bad things should be catched far far away in the last year! ^^
So, let's give our best in 2012, right!
Ganbatte! ^^

By: Vanessa (Asakusa)

Christmas In Japan

Have you ever asked, how the Japanese celebrate Christmas? ^^

As you know, in Japan the main religion is not the Christian religion, it's much more Shintoism and Buddhism. So in fact of this, Christmas in Japan has become another meaning than a religious meaning for the most Japanese people.
You often find Christmas lightning and displays on the streets, Santa Claus, Christmas trees and many other typical Christmas accessoirs, here, too, but they are more in the meaning of getting this special Christmas atmosphere known and loved from other countries. ^^

So in Japan December the 24th is no special puplic Holiday, it's a normal working day, like every other working day is.
While Christmas day in many other countries will be celebrated as a day for the family, here the Christmas day is popular for having a date. You don't celebrate Christmas with your family. Here the New Year's Eve is the day for celebrating with the family. ^^

Here you celebrate the Christmas evening with your boyfriend/girlfriend or a person you fall in love with (and he/she hopefully in you^^). It is seen as a time to be spent in a romantic setting, so fancy restaurants and hotels are often booked solid at this time. It is often also a time when girls get to reveal their affections to boys and vice versa. Because of this, extending a girl an invitation to be together on Christmas Eve has very deep, romantic implications, hihi.

But when you can't have a date, then it's usual, to celebrate with one or more good friends, so don't worry. ^^
For the more elderly couples, many hotels host dinner shows featuring major singers, actors, and actresses. Tickets to these shows, due to the season, are very very pricy.
Christmas presents are exchanged between people with romantic commitments as well as close friends. The presents tend to be cute presents and often include Teddy Bears, flowers, scarves, rings and other jewelry. Christmas cards are also given to close friends.

I think, even there are many many differences in celebrating Christmas, it has one main topic - and that is love. ^^ And love is always the best thing! ^^

So let's surprise and have a great Christmas 2011, right! ^^

By: Vanessa (Asakusa)

Nengajo (年賀状) - Japanese New Year's cards!

Do you know nengajo?

Nengajo are Japanese New Year's cards and are very important here in Japan.. ^^

The Japanese send New Year's cards rather than Christmas cards.
While younger people nowadays are more into sending emails or digital New Year's cards (here you can send your own digital cards ^^), for mid age and older people, nengajo are very traditional and popular.

You can send nengajo to your friends, to your family and relatives.
Often nengajo are send from business to business, too.

The nengajo are written during December and people are happy to read nengajo delivered on New Year's Day. So Japan Post Network accepts New Year's cards from mid December. The post office stocks the nengajo and delivers them on January 1st all at once. Unlike Christmas cards, nengajo shouldn't arrive before New Year's Day. This New Year's card postal system was set up already in the year 1899.

When you get some nengajo looking like this on January 15th, there can be a thrilling day for you! ^^


Because many people use special nengajo with lottery numbers (otoshidama-tsuki nenga hagaki) issued by the Post and Telecommunication Ministry. And on January 15th, the winning numbers are picked and the results are announced the following day on television and in newspapers. The holders of winning numbers receive prizes! ^^ These prizes aren't money, but things like electronics (TVs, Navigation systems...), stamp-sets, and so on.

Because this prepaid lottery postcards are basically plain, people print photos or images, draw pictures, and write messages on their own on it. Nengajo also often use the present year's zodiacal animal (eto) as the design. Here you see the ox or cow on the back of our cards - because they are old ones from 2009. ^^


For 2012 it's the year of the dragon! ^^


Want to read (or maybe write) your own nengajo?
As a nengajo begins with greetings and here you find some common expressions.


All these expressions basically mean, "Happy New Year". You can choose any of them to begin your card. "Kinga Shinnen (謹賀新年）," "Kyouga Shinnen (恭賀新年）," "Gashou (賀正）," and "Geishun (迎春）" are seasonal words not used in regular conversation.

After that you should add words of thanks, requests for continued favor or wishes for health. Here are some common expressions, but you can say it in your own words as well. ^^


So, maybe you want to surprise your friends or family and write one of these nice cards! ^^
I like this tradition and would be very happy, to get a huge amount of nengajo at New Year's day (and if I would win a big TV, I would be happy, too :D).

By: Vanessa (Asakusa)

Maneki Neko

Today I want to write about Maneki Neko!
The Maneki Neko (beckoning or welcoming cat) is popular in Japan as a lucky charm that invites happiness.


So, many people know, that this cute cat statues with its little waving claw is a good luck charm. But do you know the history of Maneki Neko?

Here it is (and it's so cute ^^):

Here's an actual picture of Goutokuji Temple and of the many Maneki Nekos you can find there! ^^

In the 17th century, there was a rundown and poverty-stricken temple in Tokyo. The temple's priest was very poor, but he shared what little food he had with his pet cat, Tama.
One day, a wealthy and important man was caught in a storm while hunting and he took refuge under a big tree near the temple. While he waited for the storm to pass, the man noticed a cat beckoning him to come inside the temple gate. This was so startling that he left the shelter of the tree to have a closer look at this unusual cat. At that moment, the tree was struck by lighting.
As a result, the wealthy man became friends with the poor priest, and the temple became prosperous. The priest and his cat never went hungry again.
When Tama died he was buried in the Goutokuji Temple's cat cemetery with respect and love, and the Maneki Neko was made in honor of him.

You can buy Maneki Neko figurines and little statues in many different variations, so here you have a little list about the meanings of the different variations.


Left paw raised: invites visitors or in business, customers
Right paw raised: invites money and good fortune
Both paws raised: protects home or business
White neko: stands for goodness and purity
Black neko: wards off evil
Pink or red neko: brings love and happiness
Gold neko: invites wealth and prosperity
Neko with coin in paw: invites financial gain
Neko with fish in paw: another invitation to prosperity
Tri-color or calico: luck, luck, luck (Because male calico cats are rare, they are revered as "lucky cats" among sailors around the world, and among Maneki Neko collectors)


The Japanese popular idol group Arashi has made a video about Maneki Neko and coming to Japan, too. It's really really cute and you should watch it! ^^

Maybe you want to have your own, too! ^^

By: Vanessa (Asakusa)

One Really Fun Day Through Tokyo - For Less Than 5000 Yen! ^^

Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities on earth! And it's so expensive to spend time in Tokyo! But that's not true.
If you know, where to go and what to do, you can have a really great day in and through Tokyo with only a little amount of money. ^^
To show you, that and how that really works, I prepared a day plan for you - starting here at our hostel (Asakusa Hostel).
In my example, to start refreshed and relaxed in your day, you spent a night at our hostel in one of our dormitory beds.

Accommodation total costs: 2940 Yen (but it's always a good idea, to check our special offers ^^)
That you can start without feeling hungry, you take our breakfast and eat and drink as much, your stomach has place for! ^^
Breakfast total costs: 315 Yen
Your first step - and totally for free - is to go to Senso-ji and step a little bit into Tokyo's history: Senso-ji is the oldest temple in Tokyo and really very impressive! You couldn't miss that, when visiting Tokyo.


Then you step along through Kaminarimon Street, watching the traditional market stores, where you could buy traditional sweets and souvenirs.


Your aim now is Asakusa Station (Ginza Line). On Asakusa Station you now buy a Tokyo Metro One-Day pass, which allows you unlimited rides on any Tokyo Metro Line for an entire day from the first tot the last trains.
Train total costs: Adult 710 Yen, child 360 Yen

So with the Metro line, you can drive to Sakuradamon Station, walk 8 minutes and you are in the middle of the Park of Imperial Palace! ^^ Another must seen, if you are in Tokyo.


This Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace as the Emperor moved from Kyoto to Tokyo after the Meiji Restoration. And the East Park of Imperial Palace is open to the public.


The Nijubashi Bridge in front of the main palace is really famous and popular. So I recommend this place, too, not only because of its historical importance, also of the atmosphere around it.


There's so much space there. And the skyline which is around you there is really fantanstic! And that's all for free!

Time for lunch now! ^^
You can eat traditional food without spending amounts of money. Just only take the restaurants (I wouldn't say "fast food chains", because they are so much more!), so many Japanese people choose for their own lunch. So there are big names like Sukiya, Yoshinoya, Fuji Soba, Matsuya and much more, where you can find really delicious Gyudon, Udon, Ramen, Curry in many different variations. Tea you get for free to every meal. Depending on the restaurant you go, you can calculate with in average 500 Yen to get a great meal! ^^ So let's take Gyudon!
Lunch total costs: 500 Yen


Do you know the movie "Lost in Translation"? Time for our next travel spot: Takeshita Dori. It's located in Harajuku, so you take the metro to Meiji-jingumae station, walk 5 minutes and are in the start of the street, popular for character and idol goods, crazy and newest fashion and much young people in fantastic outfits buying the newest things there.


If you are finished in looking things, you surely cannot find in your home country and want to take a break from these much people surroundings in Takeshita Dori - no problem. The big Yoyogi Park is direct next to Takeshita Dori. And guess: it's for free!


You can walk there really long, feeling a little bit beamed to another world.


Yoyogi Park is so big with this old old woods, you'll feel like taking a walk in a big wood somewhere else! ^^
In the middle of the park you find a central square with a beautiful lawn and fountains.
Hungry again? What's about a set of Udon and small curry dish or katsudon? I told you before, where to go. ^^
Dinner total costs: 500 Yen


You are still energetic? Then it's time for night life after dinner. So the next station: Shinjuku! From there, you walk 5 minutes and are in the middle of the major entertainment town in Shinjuku: Kabukicho. There are many more restaurants, theaters, movie theaters and game arcades.


You maybe will say: Yeah, but everything will cost money. Right. But only to walk through, can be very cool, too. You can watch new things, so cool people, the atmosphere there will arrive you for sure, and this costs nothing. When visiting Tokyo, Kabukicho is a must, I think. ^^

Oh, hurry now to get one of the last trains back to Asakusa, your day full of places of interest for free is almost over!
But don't forget to take your way back a second time through Senso-ji! At night, it's so unbelievable beautiful! ^^



So, let's calculate the whole costs for one adult person in total:
4965 Yen!
For this whole day of fun.
And you have seen such cool places of interest from the middle east of Tokyo to the middle west, accommodation is included!
Tokyo expensive?
Not for us! ^^
But I don't calculate souvenirs and drinks like cocktails or beer in these costs, so how much to spend on these extra things depends totally on you. ^^

If you have more time than one day - I recommend you really to rent a bike. You can rent it only around 5 min per foot away from our hostel - for 200 Yen the whole day! ^^
And it's really convenient to ride a bike in Tokyo. So many people ride bikes here and you haven't to ride it on the busy street, you can take the sidewalk (like everybody does so here). That's the perfect way to check the local area and all places of interest around there! ^^

And if you get hungry and want to have a little snack, you can go to the 100 Yen Conbinis and stores, where you can buy almost everything to drink and eat for 105 Yen. (I like their big Melonpan there very much!) ^^

So tips for saving money in Tokyo:
- Rent a bicycle
- Get in use of the many 100 Yen Stores
- Check evening grocery in stores and conbinis
- Check out, if there are special museum days (for free entry)
- Look at the many great places of interest, you can visit for free
- Eat at one of the tasty "fast food" chains, you won't regret it!
- Look at your travel expenses and decide, if a one-day ticket may be cheaper than buying single tickets

Do you already think, Tokyo is expensive? ^^

By: Vanessa (Asakusa)

Price Tags

Song for competition by Screen of Chronicles.