{"id":7842,"date":"2017-06-19T06:00:41","date_gmt":"2017-06-19T10:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/?p=7842"},"modified":"2023-02-21T20:46:29","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T01:46:29","slug":"ochugen-oseibo-gift-ideas-japanese-customs-tradition-gift-giving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/19\/ochugen-oseibo-gift-ideas-japanese-customs-tradition-gift-giving\/","title":{"rendered":"Ochugen and Oseibo Gift Ideas: Japanese Customs and the Tradition of Giving"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"japanese<\/p>\n

What do you say when you give someone a gift? No, not \u201chere,\u201d or \u201clook, I got you a gift,\u201d but what is your gift saying? What are the wordless messages you are passing along when someone opens that special thing you gave them? There are a million possibilities but at the core, at the purest level, you are saying: I value you.<\/p>\n

\"Ochugen
Gift giving should be peaceful, especially during Ochugen or Oseibo | Image courtesy Etsy seller SatsumaStreet<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Japan, gift-giving is less about the gift itself as the meaning behind it, which is why a simple gift is often the best<\/a>. Japanese customs and the tradition of gift giving can be highly ritualized and formal but, at its heart, it\u2019s a way to show that you appreciate someone, and that you\u2019re grateful for their presence in your life. That gratefulness reaches its full flowering in the holidays of Ochugen and Oseibo, at the middle and the end of the year, respectively.<\/p>\n

Ochugen and Oseibo are days specifically designed for gift giving, as opposed to gifts being an auxiliary part of it. Gifts are merely the medium, though, through which you show appreciation, and show someone you care. On Ochugen, which generally falls on July 15th, and Oseibo, which falls in mid-December (by the 20th), you are telling someone how much they mean to you. And there are many ways to transform your emotional sentiment into something physical. Here are a few ideas for Ochugen and Oseibo gifts.<\/p>\n

A Brief History of Ochugen and Oseibo Gifts: A Changing Japanese Tradition<\/h4>\n
\"Japanese
Gift giving doesn\u2019t have to be elaborate, just thoughtful | Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before we get into the gift ideas, we should note that some of these old Japanese traditions and customs are changing. Ochugen and Oseibo began near the start of the Edo Period in the 1600s when it was considered a duty to give gifts to those you felt indebted to, such as a boss or a general. This happened twice a year and, as we said, became more and more ritualized.<\/p>\n

But, recently, this idea has fallen out of favor with the younger generation, and in the broader culture, because it feels forced and presents the opportunity for favoritism. But many in Japan have actually transformed it away from a day where you give gifts out of obligation to one where you do so because you want to show someone that you care about them. It isn\u2019t debt. It is love.<\/p>\n

That spirit has always been there, and is now being revived. Beyond the ritual, there is joy. And that joy can come in many forms\u2014i.e., let\u2019s get to some gift ideas.<\/p>\n

Ochugen and Oseibo Gift Ideas for Kids and Adults<\/h4>\n

So, what should you give as an Ochugen or Oseibo gift? Remember that the gifts themselves aren\u2019t as important as what they say. That being said, though, here are some gift ideas that people will enjoy opening.<\/p>\n

Sweets (Especially for Children)<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Japanese
You\u2019ll find very few people who don\u2019t like getting candy | Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Candy is pretty much a universal language, especially for children, which is why it is one of the most common gifts on Ochugen and Oseibo. A giant box of various candies<\/a> is a traditional gift, and one that every child, or the young of heart, will appreciate. Some of the favorites include:<\/p>\n