Gifts for Japanese Businesspeople: Etiquette Tips for Expats

Poste date: Tuesday, November 17, 2020

For Western expats living in Japan, the frequency and occasions for giving and receiving gifts may be surprising. Not only are gifts given between loved ones and friends as is the case in most cultures around the world, but they are routinely given within Japanese businesses and between corporate partners and clients.

Keep reading to learn essential information about Japanese gift giving etiquette, ideas on appropriate gifts for Japanese businesspeople, and what to say when giving and receiving a gift in a corporate setting.

Please also read: Gift Giving in Japan and Luxury Japanese Gifts for Japanese gift occasions and exclusive gifts.

Japanese Gift Giving Seasons

While Japan has adopted and redefined holidays like Valentine’s Day and Christmas, there are two traditional Japanese gift giving seasons—ochugen and oseibo—that have been a part of the country’s culture since long before the popularization of Western holidays.

Ochugen

The tradition of ochugen coincides with the summer festival known as obon, which is normally recognized on July 15 in Kanto (eastern Japan) and August 15 in Kansai (western Japan). There are some exceptions to these dates, but you will usually find that most companies begin sending gifts a couple weeks before. The purpose of this custom is to show gratitude, which may include co-workers and supervisors within your place of employment, and the value of the gift is reflective of the gratitude you wish to show (though it’s important to remember that the gesture means more than the gift itself).

Oseibo

As the end of the year approaches, homes and business throughout Japan once again take up the annual gift giving tradition known as oseibo. Expats working for Japanese companies will often find an increase of confections being handed out around the office in the first half of December as partner companies, clients, and even competitors show their appreciation and respect through culinary gifts. Oseibo gifts are meant to pay back favors received over the previous year (a slightly different purpose than ochugen); and as such, the gift’s value should be taken into consideration.

Appropriate Gifts for Japanese Businesses

In general, international employees need not worry about coordinating gifts between corporate entities. However, because gifts are an important part of Japan’s business culture even within the office, there will be time when a gift will be greatly appreciated by your co-workers and supervisors.

Traveling to Japan from Overseas

If you are visiting Japan on business to meet with a client or international branch office, you will likely be treated to Japan’s famous hospitality throughout your stay. You can reciprocate this gracious gesture by bringing something of unique value from your home country. Prior to leaving for your trip, considerations should be made regarding who you will meet during your stay and whether or not it is appropriate to give a gift.

Often a Japanese corporation will assign an employee to assist you throughout your trip, so it’s best to give a personal gift that would be appropriate for an office setting like a high-quality pen or business card holder. When shopping for the gift, choosing a respected brand name from your home country will likely be well-received. In addition, it is also appropriate to offer a gift for the department or company as a whole (depending on the size). When choosing a group gift, it is usually safe to present shelf-stable local or regional confections or snacks from your home country that can be easily shared within the office. As with all gift giving in Japan, presentation and wrapping is important, so take this into consideration before your trip.

Travel within Japan

If you live and work in Japan and find yourself traveling within the country for business or pleasure, omiyage (best described as edible souvenirs) is a common gift to give in the office when you return, especially if your trip is work related. Most major train stations offer wrapped boxes of omiyage featuring famous snacks and confections that the city or region is known for within Japan. Examples include the famous Tokyo Banana, Kyoto’s traditional yatsuhashi, and cheese tarts from Sapporo featuring Hokkaido dairy products.

Attending a Wedding or Funeral

When working for a Japanese company, you may find yourself invited to a coworker’s wedding or in some unfortunate cases a funeral. In both instances, a gift of money is the only appropriate option. It can be difficult to know how much money is appropriate, but in most cases asking another coworker will give you the best answer. Beside the wedding gift (goshugi), the funeral gift (koden), and the special envelopes the money must be placed in, there are many additional rules of etiquette that should be followed in these two ceremonies, which we cover in greater detail in the links below.

Learn More: Japanese Wedding Etiquette
Learn More: Japanese Funeral Etiquette

Where to Buy a Business Gift in Tokyo

If you’re in a pinch or are new to Tokyo and need to present a gift, an easy way to find a wide selection of high-quality gifts that will be well-received by co-workers, bosses, or clients is to visit a depachika located below Tokyo’s most famous department stores. There you will find endless aisles of premium Japanese and Western brands selling sweet and savory goods that can be purchased in various quantities depending on the number of people who will be receiving your gift.

Learn More: Where to Find Tokyo’s Famous Depachika

Kokoro Care Packages

Kokoro Care Packages offers local, authentic Japanese foods made by regional farmers and producers. Each hand-crafted Care Package is filled with premium-quality, all-natural Japanese foods and includes a wide variety of products such as noodles, sauces, spices, snacks, soups, teas and more.

Japanese Gift Wrapping Etiquette

In Japan, much symbolism can be derived from the color and style of the gift wrapping, and as such it’s often best left to the professionals. When buying a gift, it’s common for omiyage shops and depachika stalls to offer the option of gift wrapping your package if it’s not already prewrapped. Also, you will often find that extra bags are provided equal to the number of packages you have purchased; this is so you can present your gift in a crisp, unused bag. When possible, it’s best to have the store wrap the gift for you by saying, “because this is a present, please wrap it” or in Japanese: “purezento nanode, rappingu o onegaishimasu” (プレゼントなので、ラッピングをお願いします).

Japanese Gift Giving Etiquette

There is a certain customary “dance” that happens with gift giving in Japan, and the office is no exception. While not always the case (especially with omiyage and other small food-related gifts), you will commonly find that gifts given and received during ochugen and oseibo will include a formal exchange.

What to Say When Giving a Gift

When presenting a gift in the office to an individual, consider the timing: for superiors, present when first meeting and for co-workers, present after any necessary discussion has died down. If you are offering a gift of high value, you will want to practice saying, “it isn’t much, but please accept this gift” or in Japanese: “dōzo osame kudasai” (どうぞお納め下さい); but if it’s a more casual setting with a coworker, you can say, “I thought you might like this,” which is a rough translation of the Japanese: “yokattara moratte kudasai” (良かったらもらってください). In either case it is important to present the gift to the recipient with both hands.

What to Say When Receiving a Gift

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). It is also customary to wait until after the giver has left your sight before opening the gift as not to embarrass him or her.

The Takeaway of Gift Giving in a Japanese Business

While traditional etiquette is expected to be followed between the majority of native Japanese businesspeople, international employees are often not bound by the same gift giving customs. However, with that being said, knowing the information above and doing the unexpected can leave a lasting impression among your Japanese superiors, co-workers, and clients.

For more information on Japanese business etiquette, read our beginner’s guide to get you started down the road to corporate success in Japan.

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