Gift for Japanese guide

July 3, 2006 7:11 PM

What are good gifts for our Japanese (male) guide on two-week hiking trip on Hokkaido? Are there certain American products/brands that an outdoorsy Japanese guy would love?
posted by cyrreb to Society & Culture (7 answers total)

Give him a bottle of Jack Daniels. No kidding.
posted by matty at 7:23 PM on July 3, 2006

I'd go with Johnny Walker Black Label, personally. It seems to be more popular in Asia.
posted by borkingchikapa at 7:52 PM on July 3, 2006

A nice expensive watermelon is always appreciated.
posted by ejoey at 8:12 PM on July 3, 2006

A Leatherman.

Squirt/Micra - $25+ (Keychain Size)

Full Size - $50+
posted by sophist at 10:29 PM on July 3, 2006

He may not be into whiskey, so if Jack Daniels isn't his thing, try Budweiser. It's beer, which I think all of Japan drinks, and it's American...which is something most Japanese like. These may sound like weird gifts, but this is a weird country.
posted by jimdanger at 8:49 AM on July 4, 2006

the last time i was in japan, we brought photography books. books of pictures of scenery from the US, parks, etc. they were well recieved. they seems impressed by the beauty of the scenery, the hugeness of the parks, the absence of people. i got them at B&N, in the discount aisles.

whatever you do, dont get them something made in china or taiwan.

i agree, a basket of fruit is well recieved. if you have ever travelled for businees to japan, you probably had a huge fruit basket waiting for you when you arrived at the hotel. any grocery store has fruit, just pick the nicest looking. it is expensive and considered a luxury.
posted by saragoodman3 at 2:14 PM on July 4, 2006

Money is like pearls it goes with anything.
posted by zackdog at 12:52 AM on July 5, 2006