Neill the Nomad

omiyage

Dude. Its all about 'omiyage' (the japanese word for 'souvenir'). Its not a cool trinket ya might casually pick up for a friend while you're on vacation; its a cultural obligation... it aint optional.

And the tourist areas and airport gift shops really clean-up big on this tradition. If you take time off from work to go somewhere - to another city, out of the country, wherever - thats fine... just dont come back empty-handed.

And as far as the 'co-worker vacation omiyage' is concerned, we're normally talking something edible and nothing too elaborate; but when your office has 35 people in it, it adds up quick. For friends and family, it seems to be more of a caual choice thing thought it is pretty much expected - but not evryone is uptight about it. And as far as what ya might choose, its freer as well and often goes outside the boundaries of edibility: more like western-style souvenir-getting: a t-shirt, a regional handi-craft, one more addition to your mom's cat collection... whatever.

Actually i dont know that its that big of a deal as in people are watching all that closely and keeping spreadsheets and interactive maps of your vacation activity, but it is one of those 'japanese social rules' you may have heard about. In japan, these rules - expectations of conduct - are often more important than laws. there are simply things you do and dont do. But really - this is a whole 'nother article that i will tackle when I am a little more awake.

Back to omiyage... it doesnt have to be big - just something... and, more importantly, for everyone. It seems that just about every Monday there is at least one snack item placed on my desk - a dietary document of someone's vacation. in japan, every region and city is 'famous' for some food product or another... in tokyo, its the 'Tokyo Banana' - a banana cake/cracker snack... in Nagoya, its red miso and little sweet jelly cakes and so on and so forth. At any rate, this omiyage infrastructure makes for good snackin.

I'd love to see the fiscal numbers on omiyage traffic... its gotta be huge. Miki and i dropped about $40 on our various sacks of omiyage on our way back from our new years trip as we srambled at the last minute at the airport gift shop. And let me tell you, that place was lousy with omiyage consumers.

The omiyage culture is just one of those things... and its not just for vacations anymore. Actually, gift-giving is really big here - customary throughout many venues: weddings, new jobs, and even funerals. (special note: at the weddings the wedding couple gives YOU a gift back. Complicated aint it?) But I digress.

On my way into Japan, a decent portion of my suitcase space was dedicated to a special class of this cultural mechanism: 'Relocation Omiyage.' I gave gifts to my neighbors and to the various factions and co-workers and supervisors of note at the job. My predecessor clued me in on the rather extensive omiyage hiearchy and what would be good omiyage fixes for the various powers that be. Two simple rules of thumb:

1. the more important the person, the more expensive the omiyage - and
2. wrap that sucker!

Again, it goes back to consideration and concern for the group. I tell you, if Japanese Hospitality climbed into the ring with Southern Hospitality, it would end up as a split-decision. Damn these people are considerate! This thorough concern for the well-being of others is an important and essential part of the cultural dynamic. I think gift-giving is important everywhere - or more important, the communication of one's appreciation of the kindness of others; Afterall, in america we give gifts for weddings as well, baby showers, birthday, christmas, house-warmings, parties.

Just in Japan, its become institutionalized.