My friends are getting married in a couple of weeks and the wedding is going to have a distinct Japanese feel to it. Michelle is half Japanese and James isn’t, but he is really into Japanese culture, and they are going to Japan for their honeymoon.
I asked Michelle if she would like some fancy chopsticks, but didn’t get a clear answer, so I was wondering what sort of things should I be looking for? Hopefully, it would be something easy to find in the US, as time is short and I don’t think I could order anything from Japan.
FTR, I got Michelle an Okay Sake set for Christmas a couple of years ago.
the names sugi and pak wouldn’t happen to ring a bell would they? i knew a couple way back that matched your descriptions.
Money.
Seriously, that’s really the only gift one is supposed to give at a Japanese wedding. The gifts that the bride and groom give the guests, on the other hand, are usually food- or home-oriented (I received canned mushrooms and cooking oil, but I’ve seen wedding catalogs that include items like dishes, towels, blankets and some really yummy-looking imported foods). Funerals work pretty much the same way.
That’s not much fun, though, and not really what you’re asking, so I guess for Japan-themed wedding gifts a nice bowl-and-chopstick set for two would make a nice present, and would be something they could actually use.
What about a really nice Zojirushi ricemaker and/or steamer? I see from their website ( http://www.zojirushi.com ) that they also carry mochi-making machines.
I know that Michelle already has a rice cooker, personally I found that the stuff at the edges were overcooked and the stuff in the middle was undercooked. I’ve always had better luck with a pot of boiling water.
Michelle even has one of those electric hot water pots.
I think that I’m going to hold off and when I see something that I think will be perfect, I’ll just get it after the fact.
Just don’t give them four of anything. Four is the Number of Death in Japan.