I’m heading east next week and one night I will be meeting 15 people who are members of a hobby group in Japan that I am part of in the U.S.
I’m meeting them for dinner and my friend and I were going to be bringing out some small gifts to give these people, such as pens and pencils from where we work. Nothing fancy, but just something from the US.
My question is: Is it imperative that we get all these little things wrapped in some way? Or we can make little “goodie bags” of some type? Is it just too tacky to hand out things without any wrapping on them?
From what I recall reading in my mom’s Japanese etiquette book - when you receive wrapped presents in Japanese culture, it is considered very gauche to open them in the presence of the person who has given them to you (unlike in most other cultures, where one would be offended if you didn’t open the present in their presence). That leads me to believe that the wrapping is kind of an important component…
An interesting hijack about Japanese gift-giving: apparently, there is actually something called “hole-in-one insurance” in Japan, because anytime a golfer hits a hole-in-one, he is expected to give presents to practically everyone he knows, which often comes to a large sum of money.
Just out of curiosity…How do you know this, kuroashi? Have you had to do that before?
I know when I was an Rotary club exchange student, the guys who got a hole-in-one actually threw a party for their Rotary club. I went to two that year. Mind you, most guys over here who play golf regularly are rich enough to be able to do that.
I’m going to meet the people in Tokyo. I suppose that when I get to Japan I will have to look for 15 little boxes to put all the stuff in. I don’t want to wrap them up before I leave and have all the Security people at the airport make me unwrap them.
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What is it with US-Japanese etiquette? Why are we Americans always expected to do it the Japanese way? When Japenese businessmen come to the U.S, it’s US who are expected to bow and hand business cards with both hands. Why can’t the Japanese NOT bow, stick out their hands, and say “Hihowareyou.”? Are there no books in Japan on What To Do When Visiting The U.S.?
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I’m sorry KXL, but in my experience most Japanese are very familiar with western etiquette. Generally when westerners bow and what not, it’s from watching too many movies.
KXL, usually it’s the other way around. The Japanese generally try to do things the American way in America, especially the businessmen. BobT is being culturally sensitive and basically asking how to get the best bang for his buck in Japan. It’s not expected, IMHO many if not most American’s don’t bother, and the Japanese, like most people, generally appreciate it when foreign visitors try to do things according to proper ettiquite of the country being visited.
I doubt if most americans believe that that have to greet Japanese businessmen with a bow and a two handed business card pass. I doubt most Japanese expect it. However, just about any Japanese businessman that visits the US and gets a genuine attempt at a Japanese greeting will appreciate the gesture.
Yes presentation of your gifts is very importatnt. My husband has received little company type trinkets from folks in Hong Kong and Korea. They were presented in very attractive boxes that we now keep on display.
I think all the advice you’ve gotten here is great, but in the end I would say don’t obsess too much about the wrapping. It’ll be great if you can have it, but even if you don’t, it’s not like they won’t appreciate the gesture of your gift. You can tell them about your dilemma with the airport security, how you consulted people on an Internet message board, and have a good chuckle over it. I wouldn’t sweat it.
Side note: from my experience in Japan, the importance of wrapping depends a lot upon context, esp. the formality of the occasion (and perhaps even the value of the gift). At relatively informal meetings, I’ve received plenty of company trinkets (company pins, cheapy watches, etc.) without any real wrapping on them. So, there is some flexibility in the cultural “rules” here.
You must have a very limited exposure to Japanese visitors. The ones I’ve seen who come to America go out of their way to learn American customs and mores, up to and including how to use a knife and fork and dining exclusively on western cuisine, just to be polite. How many Americans visiting Japan are willing to spend the entire time using only chopsticks and eating the local dishes?
I’m being culturally sensitive mainly out of politeness. Some of the people in this group have helped me out with projects and volunteered a lot of their time to me. And they are inviting me to dinner and it’s quite likely they are going to pick up the tab. They are also getting my friend and I free tickets to a baseball game.
I know I can get away with a lot there. When you’re a 6’5" white guy in Japan, you get handed forks in restaurants without asking.