Comments on: A mid-summer night’s greeting…card http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/07/15/a-mid-summer-nights-greeting-card/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/07/15/a-mid-summer-nights-greeting-card/#comment-2926 Doug Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:32:14 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=4524#comment-2926 "Christmas cubed"...that's <strong>hilarious</strong>! I know all about that complex web of obligations. Everytime we go back to Japan, it's a hassle to get お土産 for every relative, family friend, and temple family we know. My wife is pretty efficient at it, but we usually end up filling one suitcase with stuff from Seattle or Ireland to bring back. Then there's all the birthday's and such. It's not all bad though. I think why the system has persisted so long is that people get lots of gifts too. That's a nice thing. :) “Christmas cubed”…that’s hilarious! I know all about that complex web of obligations. Everytime we go back to Japan, it’s a hassle to get お土産 for every relative, family friend, and temple family we know. My wife is pretty efficient at it, but we usually end up filling one suitcase with stuff from Seattle or Ireland to bring back. Then there’s all the birthday’s and such.

It’s not all bad though. I think why the system has persisted so long is that people get lots of gifts too. That’s a nice thing. :)

]]> By: ロバート http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/07/15/a-mid-summer-nights-greeting-card/#comment-2925 ロバート Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:28:40 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=4524#comment-2925 It's interesting to see the ochugen displays in supermarkets and department stores. I never would have thought that laundry detergent was a suitable gift, but it seems so in Japan. (and also, somewhat strangely I thought, a suitable return gift after receiving gift money at a funeral). I preferred the look of the somen, or the gift packs of iced coffee. The fruit baskets are amazing. Huge apples, and perfect melons. I like the idea of present giving, omiyage, gifts to teachers at term end, etc but am uncomfortable with the web of complex obligations, it's like Christmas cubed. It’s interesting to see the ochugen displays in supermarkets and department stores. I never would have thought that laundry detergent was a suitable gift, but it seems so in Japan. (and also, somewhat strangely I thought, a suitable return gift after receiving gift money at a funeral).

I preferred the look of the somen, or the gift packs of iced coffee.
The fruit baskets are amazing. Huge apples, and perfect melons.

I like the idea of present giving, omiyage, gifts to teachers at term end, etc but am uncomfortable with the web of complex obligations, it’s like Christmas cubed.

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/07/15/a-mid-summer-nights-greeting-card/#comment-2921 Doug Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:31:12 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=4524#comment-2921 Hm, that's very interesting. My "guidebook" gave me the impression that everyone in Japan does this, so I was surprised when my wife said she didn't. I like the idea of sending cards at least, because you're saying "hello" to people and showing that you are thinking about them, but the gifts do seem kind of unnecessary. On the other hand, it is nice to receive a gift, so if I was in Japan, I guess I might send to a few people, but not too many. I don't want to go broke being generous. ;) Hm, that’s very interesting. My “guidebook” gave me the impression that everyone in Japan does this, so I was surprised when my wife said she didn’t. I like the idea of sending cards at least, because you’re saying “hello” to people and showing that you are thinking about them, but the gifts do seem kind of unnecessary.

On the other hand, it is nice to receive a gift, so if I was in Japan, I guess I might send to a few people, but not too many. I don’t want to go broke being generous. ;)

]]> By: naoko http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/07/15/a-mid-summer-nights-greeting-card/#comment-2918 naoko Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:40:48 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=4524#comment-2918 Yeah, it's usual to skip Ochugen or Oseibo if you are in your wife's generation. I don't send it to my own relatives or bosses or co-workers of my husband, too. Maybe, my husband works with foreigners and he doesn't need to care so much about Japanese traditional customs. However, the people in my parents generation (around 60 )or more older seem to emphasize these customs. I don't care to send gifts as it's a seasonal ritual, but I love to send message cards in summer and new year. Yeah, it’s usual to skip Ochugen or Oseibo if you are in your wife’s generation. I don’t send it to my own relatives or bosses or co-workers of my husband, too. Maybe, my husband works with foreigners and he doesn’t need to care so much about Japanese traditional customs.
However, the people in my parents generation (around 60 )or more older seem to emphasize these customs.

I don’t care to send gifts as it’s a seasonal ritual, but I love to send message cards in summer and new year.

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