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Gift Giving and Recieving in Japan

Nadeshiko_Ogawa

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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:41 am

Ok. I have a penpal who offered to send me a children's book from Japan(with very basic kanji and kana)
I do not know how to reply to her e-mail because I don't want her to have to spend money on me and my ambitions. And I don't want to refuse a very nice offer.
Do I reply with a refusal?
Do I reply with a "Yes! That's so nice and wonderful!"
Do I reply with a gift for her(I'd like to give her something in exchange, about Austrailia(she likes Austrailia) in English since she's learning...
Or what!?

Japanese etiquette is a BIT hard to understand...

Can anyone help?

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:50 am

Nadeshiko_Ogawa

Ok. I have a penpal who offered to send me a children's book from Japan(with very basic kanji and kana)
I do not know how to reply to her e-mail because I don't want her to have to spend money on me and my ambitions. And I don't want to refuse a very nice offer.
Do I reply with a refusal?
Do I reply with a "Yes! That's so nice and wonderful!"
Do I reply with a gift for her(I'd like to give her something in exchange, about Austrailia(she likes Austrailia) in English since she's learning...
Or what!?
Japanese etiquette is a BIT hard to understand...
Can anyone help?

Short answer: reciprocate.

Long answer: Look here Also, don't give her something that's in multiples of 4. In Japan, 4 can be said as yon or shi, and shi also means DEATH. Not something you wanna associate with a gift.

Koiyuki
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Nadeshiko_Ogawa

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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 6:22 pm

Tanks, I'm just having doubts, because shipping to Japan of a 2 lb. box is $70+!
And I don't want her to have to pay that much! So...

Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 2:39 am

I don't think it would be that much. On the Japanese post office's website, it says a package up to 1kg (about 2lbs) can be sent airmail to North America for 2060yen (a bit less than US$20). Not exactly cheap, but not too bad.

Oh, and there's only one 'i' in Australia ^^

antisense

Fluffy Creature

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Nadeshiko_Ogawa

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Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:42 am

Ok... Thank you! ^^ I think I'll do that. smile

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