MrsCoffee

We are in the process of planning a business trip to Tokyo,Japan from Norway and are contimplating on what kind of gift to bring. One item we are thinking about bringing is boxed smoked fish. Is that a good idea? If not, any suggestions?

yathy

I think smoked fish is a good idea if it need not to keep low temperature.

Many Japanese, including me, like fish and think Norway is famous for seafood.

Now it is hot and humid season in Tokyo, so if the gift needs cooling, it will be hard to bring them during your trip.

To aviod this problem, some canned or cooked seafoods would be good alternative.

deptrai

Whatever you decide to bring, make sure it is properly wrapped in wrapping paper.

Dave

MrsCoffee

Thanks so much Yathy and Deptrai for the reply. The fish is smoked and packaged in a box, it won't need to be refrigerated until opened. It will also be wrapped (in plain paper??) Is this a good gift if there will be several people, say 12, at a business meeting or would something else be more appropriate.

yathy

>> Is this a good gift if there will be several people, ...

I think smoked fish will be good. But if you have any other gift ideas, that will be worth considering.

Japanese people usually use some assortment of sweets or something as a gift for group of people which can be easilly shared by them.

As deptrai said, Japanese are very conscious of not only the content but also the appearance of a gift.

Wrapping manner is a part of Japanese tradition, and some special wrapping paper, called "NOSHI", is still used for formal gift. Of course you don't have to use NOSHI.

Anyway, beautifully wrapped gift must be appreciated.

If you have time to buy some Japanese souvenirs, try NOSHI. Any dept. store
in Japan have NOSHI for wrapping and
it is usually free! Ask salesperson.
Enjyo your stay!

SamH

The smoked fish is a good idea. Chocolates are also appreciated. As mentioned, the wrapping is unusually important. Sometimes the recipient will not open a gift in front of the presenter. Almost always they will carefully open the gift then fold and save the wrapping paper. When my son went to Japan for school he took a bagful or "American" things... flag keychains and such for his classmates. They were a hit.
sam

MrsCoffee

Thanks so much again for the ideas. I will keep the assortment of sweets in mind. If I bring a large assortment of sweets to be shared by a group, then who is the gift presented to???

yathy

>> who is the gift presented to???

To the highest rank or eldest person you meet will be good. Japanese tend to do so. And if you are also a group, hand it from the top of your group. Top to top is polite and basic manner in Japan.

As SamH wrote, your counterpart may not open your gift in front of you because this is the traditional manner. Opening the gift on the spot has been considered ignoble.

As for myself, open the gift if the presenter is foreign people or young Japanese, but don't do that if it is given by elder Japanese.