Omiyage
Small gifts from a trip, to give to family and friends at your destination and when you get back home.
Omiyage-gifts go beyond the little souvenirs that you can find on any street corner in America. Although I did find some fabulous key rings from a Walgreens in Tucson that I used as tags on several gifts once that were a huge hit....
They should be thoughtful and nicely wrapped.
Japanese homes are very small so the best gifts are ones that can be consumed or useful.
I remember once giving the most beautiful Honeydew Melon I have ever seen, complete with curled stem and one leaf in a box with tissue strips to the wonderful mother of Yuko. Melons are expensive in Japan and a luxury, so they make a fabulous gift. I bought it in Japan for a thank you, goodbye gift.
Hard to find or different chocolates, cookies or some wine from a certain region are always wonderful.
Kids are somewhat easier David took a small Nerf suction dart gun back to his nephew and was a huge hit.
Omiyage that David and Yuko brought for me.
In front a Totoro pencil bag with color pencils and scarves made from cashmere and silk from the sister of Yuko.
Umbeboshi, pickled plums, from a super friend I really miss. Several boxes of my favorite cookies, thin wafer cookies wrapped around a soy rice cracker, from Yuko's Mother. I love and miss my Japanese Family and friends.
From David and Yuko several bottles of Sake, fabulous green bottle and the pink box, lots of my favorite spicy miso ramen, spicy crackers, and bottles of spices I can't find in Tucson.
And...
David always gives me one found object. The little black/white plastic rectangle on the left, is a handle cover from a Japanese Taxi. In Japan the driver automatically opens and closed the door so some taxis have covers made for the door handle.
I always take one suitcase filled with gifts when I go to Japan. I lost the before photo of the suitcase but here is a photo of my bag when I got home. I filled half with paper goods and of course wonderful items from the Ghibli Shop but the rest is over filled with gifts given to me. I repacked this bag about three times.
exciting. . . parsnip
music. . . You Make It Easy, Air
