We are one day closer to 2021! Today’s gifting suggestions come to us from Japan via Takuya Kuronuma, BA ’00 (International Studies) and current Education student Yuuka Sato. Following their personal gift picks, Takuya and Yuuka have also shared some information about popular gifting holidays in Japan.
Takuya Kuronuma is currently Head of Global Supply Chain, Aftermarket Business at NSK Ltd, the third largest bearings supplier in the world. Takuya-san has been involved in the University of Oregon Alumni Association’s Japan chapter for nearly eight years, serving over six years as chapter Vice President and just over one and a half years as chapter President! You can learn more about the Japan Ducks below. When Takuya is not working or supporting the UO at watch parties and admission fairs, he enjoys spending time watching the Doraemon anime series with his daughter Chelsea (see photo below).
Yuuka Sato is a sophomore Education major who is also minoring in both Japanese and Korean. She is from Portland and Japan and holds media and outreach positions in both the UO Japanese Student Organization (@uojso on Instagram) and the UO International Student Association (@uoisa on Instagram). Yuuka loves connecting students across cultures at the UO and in her free time enjoys painting, cooking, and embroidery – among other things!
Takuya Kuronuma, BA ’00
UOAA Japan Chapter President and all-around enthusiastic Duck supporter! Head of Global Supply Chain, Aftermarket Business at NSK Ltd
Top gifts: Trends and traditions
Japanese snacks
There are far too many kinds and versions of Japanese snacks for me to explain or even list here – for example, Japan has over 300 flavors/varieties of Kit-Kat bars! One of the famous sweet snacks for giving and eating at new year’s time is mochi. Mochi is made from glutinous rice which is made into flour and then into a cake. Mochi can have many flavors/fillings, but many of you will be familiar with mochi which has ice cream for a filling. You can make it at home with this recipe. To learn more about some of the most interesting Japanese snacks, you can see this top 25 Japanese snacks list.
Money/Otoshidama
At New Year’s time, people gift their children, as well as their friends’ and neighbors’ children, otoshidama or money packets. This is said to have evolved from a custom of offering a special new year’s mochi (called kagami mochi) to the god of the new year.
Japanese sweets
Yes, it is more food! Traditional sweets called wagashi are gifted regularly in Japan. For example, ohagi is one wagashi sweet which is gifted and eaten on the autumn equinox. According totsunagu Japan, “This Japanese sweet is made from rounded cooked sticky rice which is wrapped in red bean paste or soybean flour.
The most common ohagi flavors are red bean paste and soybean flour called kinako. We can also wrap the ohagi with flour of sesame or walnut.”
Top gifts: Personal picks
Medicines to prevent and treat COVID-19
Everyone is eager for the difficulties caused by COVID-19 to ease, whether it is the loss of a loved one, loss of income, or general loneliness and missing the days of travel and socializing. I hope all of my fellow Ducks are well and stay well as we wait for medicines to become widely available.
Oregon beers and wines
Something that is high quality and delivers a taste of home (or, in my case, home away from home!) – what could be better?
Doraemon episodes and products
Doraemon is more than a cute anime character. Doraemon is always working with friends like Nobita and others to solve important problems. There are many life skills and lessons to be learned from Doraemon!
Yuuka Sato
Current UO Education major, international student group superstar, and Asian language dynamo
My top gifts: Trends and traditions
Wagashi
Gifts that are always popular in Japan are traditional Japanese sweets called Wagashi. Wagashi is made with sweet bean paste and sweet rice paste and comes in many flavors, such as different fruit flavors or macha flavor. Wagashi are usually dyed in different colors to make a fun, multi-color display! You can try making your own with this recipe.
Fresh fruit, luxury fruit
Japan has always been known for having very expensive fruits, but the range of fruits that are grown perfectly and selling for a high price has definitely increased! You can see platters of different fruits that are presented very beautifully being sold more commonly now. One of the more interesting perfectly grown luxury fruits is the square watermelon!
Sake
Good sake (rice wine) is a gift that will almost always impress people! Premium sake is known as Daiginjo – which means that at least 50% of the rice grains used are polished. The polishing is said to make the sake more mild and aromatic!
My top gifts: Personal picks
Books on wellness...and everything else!
I love books that discuss important topics such as mental health and well being, and honestly any books! It’s always nice to gain new perspectives, and the best thing about books is that it can always be passed onto another person or something you can cherish for a long time.
Earrings
Jewelry is another favorite! Personally, I love floral dangly earrings that remind you of the spring season! This is a favorite because it’s a nice way to personalize your every day and add a unique touch. It’s also fun to choose jewelry for other people because it’s fun to coordinate according to
their tastes and hobbies!
Kitchen items
Kitchen Items are definitely a favorite because they’re practical, and can be used for a long period of time. Food is something that can be universally bonded over and I think creating memories
through sharing favorite foods is always fun.
Incense and candles with Japanese scents
I love candles and different incense! I think different scents help people feel calm and comfortable, and I love using incense that reminds me of Japan! These include plum blossom and plum wood, aloeswood, and green tea.
Gifting in Japan
Takuya and Yuuka share that he main gifting holidays they have observed in Japan are Ochugen (in July), Oseibo (in December), and New Year (celebrated from January 1 – 3).
Ochugen and Oseibo are mid-year and end-of-year seasonal giving times. People show gratitude towards those who took care of them and showed kindness during the year. The word ‘ Seibo’ in Oseibo, is written as “ before the year ends” , so these gifts are usually given at the end of the year before the next year starts. These seasonal giving times are not as commonly celebrated as they used to be, they are still traditional times of the year for many. Gifts are usually given to superiors in the work force , or people that have taken care of you during that year.
New Years is a very important holiday in Japan as it focuses on celebrating the upcoming year with a fresh new start. Japanese people hold celebrations that focus on “ forgetting the past year” and eat traditional foods that symbolize different things such as wealth, or longevity. At New Years, gifts are not often given but it is a common tradition for adults of the family to give the children “Otoshidama” which is money, to show appreciation and to help them look forward to the new year. The days leading up to the new year include parties and cleaning one’s home.
Japan Ducks
Japan boasts the largest and longest-standing international chapter of the UO Alumni Association. The Japan Ducks represent over 2,000 former University of Oregon students with the majority residing in and around Tokyo. In addition to a monthly Japanese-language newsletter, the chapter convenes an annual meeting each spring. They also hold annual social get togethers for alumni in the Tokyo and Kansai areas and occasionally hold football watch parties. The event reconnects University of Oregon alumni and friends to each other for networking and socializing, while updating attendees on the current happenings at the UO. The Japan Ducks have supported a scholarship for Japanese students attending the UO and helped the UO admissions team promote the UO in Japan. Japan Ducks also made several significant donations toward the establishment of the Mills International Center in the EMU. You can learn more and get in touch with the Japan Ducks by clicking here and choosing “Japan Ducks from the side menu.
