Japanese Gift exchange manner

Gift exchange is a time-honored, popular tradition in Japan. It is regarded much more important than it is in the West. Among various types of gift a money gift may be unique and peculiar. A money gift indicates affection, appreciation, respect or condolence. The amount is greater in proportion to the closeness of your relationship. It should be presented in a special envelope (No-shi-bukuro), wrapped in a correct manner. No-shi-bukuro can be easily found at any stationary shop, department store, or even at Seven Eleven (Please be sure to choose the right No-shi-bukuro, depending on the nature of the gift related to the occasions). Write your name on the backside of the envelope, using a Japanese brush-type pen. When you are well informed with HOW-TO offer a monetary gift you may avoid embarrassing situations in Japanese social life.

Japanese Translation Okurimono no yaritori wa naganen uketsugarete kita nihon no daihyo teki na dento desu. Kore wa seiyo no shakai yori mo omonjirarete imasu. Samazama na keishiki no okurimono no nakademo okane no okurimono wa dokujisei ga ari mata kimyo demo arimasu. Okane no okurimono wa aijo ya, shousan, keii, okuyami wo hyougen shimasu. Kingaku wa tsukiai no fukasa ni yotte kawatte kimasu. Okane no okurimono wa No-shi-bukuro to yobareru, tokubetsu na fuutou ni ire, tadashii keishikide okurare nakereba narimasen. No-shi-bukuro wa bunbouguten ya matawa depa-to oyobi Seven Eleven de kantanni teni hairi masu. (kikai goto no okurimono no seishitsu ni oujite tadashii No-shi-bukuro wo erande kudasai.) Fuutou no uragawa ni fude pen de namae wo kakimasu. Okane no okurimono no tadashii sahou wo shuutoku shitara nihon no shakai de kimazui jyoukyou ni ochiiru koto wo sakeru koto ga dekiru deshou.

Wedding Ceremony

Money gift: Go-shu-gi Average amount: 10,000 yen to 100,000 yen Nature: Congratulation No-shi-bukuro: Kotobuki, Go-ke-kkon-o-iwai, O-iwai MizuhikiColor: Red & white, or gold & silver MizuhikiStyle: Musubi-kiri, Awaji-musubi When you are invited to the wedding ceremony you should bring "Go-shu-gi" on the day and hand it to the person at the reception. If you are a family, relative of the couple you should sent a gift either before of after the ceremony, not on the very day. The appropriate amount of "Go-shu-gi" may vary according to the area, your age, your social status and the relationship between you and the couple.The money has to be new bills. Gift: A reply to Go-shu-gi Timing: Within 30 days after the ceremony Average amount: A half of Go-shu-gi Nature: A Reply No-shi: Uchi-iwai MizuhikiColor: Red & white, or gold & silver MizuhikiStyle: Musubi-kiri Recommended gift: Daily commodity, souvenir of honeymoon

Japanese Translation Okane no okurimono: Go-shu-gi Heikin kingaku: 10,000 yen kara 100,000 yen Seishitsu: Omedetou No-shi-bukuro: Kotobuki, Go-ke-kkon-o-iwai, O-iwai Mizuhiki no iro: Kouhaku matawa kingin Mizuhiki no sutairu: Musubi-kiri, Awaji-musubi Kekkon shiki ni yobareta tokini wa Go-shu-gi wo toujitsu ni jisanshi uketsuke no kata ni tewatashi masu. Anataga kappuru no kazoku moshikuwa shinseki de areba okurimono wo shiki toujitsu dewa naku, sono mae matawa ato ni okuri masu. Go-shu-gi no datou na kingaku wa chiiki ya anata no nenrei, shakaiteki chii soshite anata to kappuru tono kankei ni yori ookiku kotonari masu. Okane wa shinsatsu de nakereba narimasen. Okurimono: Go-shu-gi no okaeshi Jiki: Shiki no 30 nichi inai Heikin kingaku: Go-shu-gi no hanbun Seishitsu: Okaeshi No-shi: Uchi-iwai Mizuhiki no iro: Kouhaku matawa kingin Mizuhiki no sutairu: Musubi-kiri Osusume gifuto: Nichiyouhin matawa hanem-un no omiyage

Funeral Service

Money gift: Ko-den Average amount: 5,000 to 50,000 yen Nature: Condolence No-shi-bukuro: Go-rei-zen,Go-butsu-zen, No-shi should not be attached. MizuhikiColor: Black and white, silver MizuhikiStyle: Musubi-kiri, Awaji-musubi You should offer Ko-den to either O-tsu-ya (wake) or O-so-shiki (funeral service) and hand it at the reception. The appropriate amount of Ko-den may vary according to the area, your age, your social status and the relationship between you and the deceased. Gift: A reply to Ko-den Timing: After Shi-ju-ku-nichi Average amount: Between a half and a third of Ko-den Nature: A Reply No-shi: Kokorozashi MizuhikiColor: Black & white, yellow or silver, No-shi should not be attached. MizuhikiStyle: Musubi-kiri Recommended gift: Daily commodity, A letter should be enclosed.

Japanese Translation Okane no okurimono: Ko-den Heikin kingaku: 5,000 kara 50,000 yen Seishitsu: Okuyami No-shi-bukuro: Go-rei-zen,Go-butsu-zen, No-shi wa tsukete wa ikemasen. Mizuhiki no iro: Shirokuro matawa gin Mizuhiki no sutairu: Musubi-kiri, Awaji-musubi O-tsu-ya matawa O-so-shiki ni Ko-den wo jisanshi uketsuke de tewatashi masu. Ko-den no datou na kingaku wa chiiki ya anatano nenrei, shakaiteki chii soshite anata to kojin tono kankei ni yori ookiku kotonari masu. Okurimono: Ko-den no okaeshi Jiki: Shi-ju-ku-nichi no ato Heikin kingaku: Ko-den no hanbun kara sanbun no ichi Seishitsu: Okaeshi No-shi: Kokorozashi, No-shi wa tsukete wa ikemasen. Mizuhiki no iro: Shirokuro, kiiro, gin Mizuhiki no sutairu: Musubi-kiri Osusume gifuto: Nichiyouhin, tegami wo soeru

Feast around Shi-ju-ku-nichi

Money gift: O-ku-motsu Average amount: 5,000 yen to 20,000 yen Nature: Condolence No-shi-bukuro: No-shi-bukuro O-hana-dai or O-ku-motsu-ryo, White envelope shall be accepted, too. No-shi should not be attached. Mizuhiki no iro: Black & white Mizuhiki no sutairu: Musubi-kiri When you visit the grave and then attend the feast on Shi-ju-ku-nichi (the 49th day after the passing away), you should bring some money in No-shi-Bukuro. O-ku-motsu may be normally in a small amount, yet depending on your age, the relationship between you and the deceased.

Japanese Translation Okane no okurimono: O-ku-motsu Heikin kingaku: 5,000 yen kara 20,000 yen Seishitsu: Hagemashi No-shi-bukuro: O-hana-dai matawa O-ku-motsu-ryo, shiroi fuutou demo yoi, No-shi wa tsukete wa ikemasen. Mizuhiki no iro: Shirokuro Mizuhiki no sutairu: Musubi-kiri Ohaka maeri ni yuki, Shi-ju-ku-nichi ni manekareta tokini wa No-shi-bukuro ni shougaku wo ire tewatashi masu. O-ku-motsu wa ippantekiniwa shougaku desu ga yahari anatano nenrei ya kojin tono kankei ni yori gaku wa kawari masu.

Giving a Birth

Money gift: Shu-ssan-iwai Average amount: 5,000 yen to 10,000 yen Nature: Congratulation No-shi-bukuro: O-iwai MizuhikiColor: Red & white MizuhikiStyle: Cho-musubi If you are a family, relative or close friend of a newly becoming mother you shall give Shu-ssan-iwai. You should offer a gift present as well, which would be more intimate and appreciated. Gift: A reply to Shu-ssan-iwai Timing: Around 30th day after a birth Average amount: A half of Shu-ssan-iwai Nature: A Reply No-shi: Uchi-iwai MizuhikiColor: Red & white MizuhikiStyle: Cho-musubi Recommended gift: Daily commodity, Enclosed photo of the baby can be appreciated.

Japanese Translation Okane no okurimono: Shu-ssan-iwai Heikin kingaku: 5,000 yen kara 10,000 yen Seishitsu: Omedetou No-shi-bukuro: O-iwai Mizuhiki no iro: Kouhaku Mizuhiki no sutairu: Cho-musubi Moshimo anataga shussan sareta kata no kazoku matawa shinseki de aru baai wa Shu-ssan-iwai wo okuri masu. Awasete purezento wo okuru to yori shitashimi ga ari yorokobareru hazu desu. Okurimono: Shu-ssan-iwai no okaeshi Jiki: Shussan go 30 nichime goro Heikin kingaku: Shu-ssan-iwai no hangaku Seishitsu: Okaeshi No-shi: Uchi-iwai Mizuhiki no iro: Kouhaku Mizuhiki no sutairu: Cho-musubi Osusume gifuto: Nichiyouhin, akachan no shashin wo doufuu suruto yorokobare masu.

Visiting Someone at the Hospital

Money gift: O-mi-mai Average amount: 10,000 yen Nature: Sympathy No-shi-bukuro: O-mi-mai, Iwai-on-zen-kai, Mizu-gashi-ryo, O-kuda-mono-ryo , White envelope shall be accepted, too. MizuhikiColor: Red & white MizuhikiStyle: Musubi-kiri Cash token of sympathy can be handed in O-mi-mai No-shi-bukuro. Alternatively you can bring some fruits, flower basket or send a get-well card (Be aware that there are several types of flower that should no be chosen.). Or you may offer both. Gift: A reply to O-mi-mai Timing: After a recovery from an illness Average amount: Between a half and a third of O-mi-mai Nature: A Reply No-shi: Kai-ki-iwai, Kai-ki-uchi-iwai MizuhikiColor: Red & white MizuhikiStyle: Musubi-kiri Recommended gift: Daily commodity

Japanese Translation Okane no okurimono: O-mi-mai Heikin kingaku: 10,000 yen Seishitsu: Omoiyari, hagemashi No-shi-bukuro: O-mi-mai, Iwai-on-zen-kai, Mizu-gashi-ryo, O-kuda-mono-ryo, shiroi fuutou demo yoi MizuhikiColor: Red & white MizuhikiStyle: Musubi-kiri Kono O-mi-mai wa O-mi-mai you No-shi-bukuro ni irete tewatashi masu. Kawari ni kudamono ya hanakago moshikuwa omimai no ka-do wo okuru kotomo dekimasu. (Okuttewa ikenai hana no shurui ga arimasu node gochuui kudasai.) Okane to okurimono no ryouhou wo okuttemo yoi desu. Okurimono: O-mi-mai no okaeshi Jiki: Byouki kara kaifuku shita koro Heikin kingaku: O -mi-mai no hanbun kara sanbun no ichi Seishitsu: Okaeshi No-shi: Kai-ki-iwai, Kai-ki-uchi-iwai Mizuhiki no iro: Kouhaku Mizuhiki no sutairu: Musubi-kiri Osusume gifuto: Nichiyouhin

Inquire after the Natural Disaster, Misfortune

Money gift: Sai-gai-mi-mai Average amount: Over 30,000 yen Nature: Sympathy and Support No-shi-bukuro: O-mi-mai, White envelope should be used instead of No-shi-bukuro. No-shi should not be attached. Mizuhiki: No Mizuhiki Sai-gai-mi-mai expresses one's sympathy to the person who has met with a misfortune, experienced a natural disaster and such the like. It implies one's willingness to support the person, therefore, the amount shall be over 30,000 yen. It is not obligation to return a gift for Sai-gai-mi-mai.

Japanese Translation Okane no okurimono: Sai-gai-mi-mai Heikin kingaku: 30,000 yen ijou Seishitsu: Omoiyari, sapo-to No-shi-bukuro: O-mi-mai, No-shi-bukuro no kawari ni shiroi fuutou wo shiyou suru koto, No-shi wa tsukete wa ikemasen. Mizuhiki: No Mizuhiki Sai-gai-mi-mai towa fukou ni mimawareta kata, saigai nado wo taiken sareta kata ni omoiyari no kimochi wo hyougen surumono desu. Kore wa sono kata wo susunde tasuketai to iu ishi no araware demo ari kingaku wa 30,000 yen ijou ni nari masu. Sai-gai-mi-mai eno okaeshi wa hitsuyou arimasen.

Back