Best Official Japan Souvenirs

[Mulboyne]

[kamome]

[dimwit]

In Otaru, I found a great sushi musical box.

[Mulboyne]

Dare I ask what the American embassy rep chose?

You can see the list on page two of that PDF link. I would look myself but my net connection is painfully slow. And the answer probably isn't that interesting.

[kamome]

You can see the list on page two of that PDF link. I would look myself but my net connection is painfully slow. And the answer probably isn't that interesting.

I couldn't read the kanji and didn't know what the picture was. Something to do with a bird or a duck. You're right that it's not that interesting.

[Doctor Stop]

It's a ceramic origami crane.

[Greji]

It's a ceramic origami crane.

I posted a translation of it yesterday, but apparently the board ate my post. It claims to be a Bizen Ceramic Crane, a take of the origami crane, pottery version, made at the Kayama Studio (or whatever you call a place that makes ceramic cranes), in Hiroshima. They go at a buy for 1,800 to 2,000 a pop.

I know bird will have get an erection as soon as he he sees these birds, so I immediately ordered a couple so he can have them as omiyagis for his next visit to the exotic far east!

It is also refreshing to know that when you are trying to get something done at the US embassy and you can't reach first base because they are so busy, that the real reason is they are out doing the important business of the American people, that being going to Hiroshima to price and buy ceramic cranes. But don't worry, they will get around to processing your paperwork sometime in the immediate future!

[kamome]

I posted a translation of it yesterday, but apparently the board ate my post. It claims to be a Bizen Ceramic Crane, a take of the origami crane, pottery version, made at the Kayama Studio (or whatever you call a place that makes ceramic cranes), in Hiroshima. They go at a buy for 1,800 to 2,000 a pop.

I know bird will have get an erection as soon as he he sees these birds, so I immediately ordered a couple so he can have them as omiyagis for his next visit to the exotic far east!

Hmmmm...does this mean I need to change my avatar to a Bizen ceramic crane?

[Greji]

Hmmmm...does this mean I need to change my avatar to a Bizen ceramic crane?

Only if you are planning to be a paper shuffler at the Embassy when you grow up!

[kamome]

Only if you are planning to be a paper shuffler at the Embassy when you grow up!

Great idea! Except I wouldn't want to be known as "the guy" who pisses off every American in Japan AND every Japanese who needs to do something in the US AND every other non-American who needs to get a visa. Embassy workers and immigration in general are generally a-holes.

[Mulboyne]

Eworldwire: Tourists Hungry For Japanese Souvenirs Acquire A Taste For Kyoto Silks Sushi

The "Appealing Japanese Souvenir Award" is presented annually by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as part of its initiative to encourage sightseeing in Japan. Kyoto Silks', "I Love Sushi," T-shirt has received the Silver Prize this year. Japanese souvenirs related to sushi are highly sought by foreigners visiting Japan or for Japanese people visiting overseas countries because it is the food item that best represents all Japanese dishes. Last year Kyoto Silk won the coveted Golden Prize for its Realistic Sushi Key Chain, and the year before that the company walked away with the Golden Prize, again for a unique Sushi Candle Souvenir Set...more...

[Bucky]

"I Love Sushi," T-shirt

Perfect give for Kate Beckinsale:herring:http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?p=181322#post181322

[ttjereth]

Morimokkori




http://images.google.com/images?q=%E3%81%BE%E3%82%8A%E3%82%82%E3%81%A3%E3%81%93%E3%82%8A&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

[Mulboyne]

The Tourism Agency has added a new category to this annual award. It's for expensive gifts aimed at wealthy tourists rather than the great unwashed who only want sushi T-shirts. "Luxury Japan" will join "Traditional Japan" and "Cool Japan" when the results are annnounced for 2010. The category will feature items priced over 10,000 yen. The cut off date for entries is January 11th.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

i guess my friends just aren't as hip as the general masses, because it's always the toys that come in the plastic ball from vending machines, and the promotional collector's series crap that coca cola and pepsi attach to the bottle. those bearbrick ones that came out a few years ago was the biggest hit, i had loads of people emailing me to go look for the alien and friday the 13th ones.

j-condoms are always a winner as well. especially the ones with cute anime on the box.

and of course the hello kitty personal massagers...

[Mulboyne]

Rocket News has a list (Japanese) of cheap souvenirs popular with foreign tourists.

Origami Sushi



Rice cracker-style coin purse



Screaming Cup



Gum sushi kit (already mentioned here)

[YThq]Gr-qewC-4gY[/YThq]

Ampanman maki rolling kit



The article says tourists also buy instant ramen, novelty goods, Japanese sweets, and bath salts & soaps.

[Greji]

[Mulboyne]

Here's a link to the 2012 prize winners (Japanese)

The overall prize went to a set of plates in the shape of fans. It's the first picture in that link.

[IparryU]

would that be a mole shit?

I can understand that it makes some appeal to skat fans... but that's nasty...

[matsuki]

Another popular omiyagi

Some of us have quite a hoarding problem with that one...

[Cyka UchuuJin]

Here's a link to the 2012 prize winners (Japanese)

The overall prize went to a set of plates in the shape of fans. It's the first picture in that link.

who the hell is buying that crap?? the only souveniers my friends want me to bring them is 5 finger socks, hello kitty vibrators, and powdered ukon no chikara packets!

[IparryU]

who the hell is buying that crap?? the only souveniers my friends want me to bring them is 5 finger socks, hello kitty vibrators, and powdered ukon no chikara packets!

quite a few of my friends would like vibus!

[GomiGirl]

Those food shaped erasers are really great gifts and you can get them at the 100 yen shop.

Fridge magnets are so passe now.

But the rest of them are probably what the Tourist association would like us to want to give as gifts as they have the right esthetic but are not really in touch with what real people want to take away with them.

I don't take much "Japanese-y" stuff when I go home anymore. I mainly take food. Lots of awesome-ness to be found at Narita.

[matsuki]

I mainly take food. Lots of awesome-ness to be found at Narita.

I used to but so many people I gave it to never ended up eating it...even the more "western" stuff.

[GomiGirl]

I used to but so many people I gave it to never ended up eating it...even the more "western" stuff.

Ungrateful sods. I always get the cookies/chocolate fujis etc. Stuff that is not too weird. But the strawberry mochi is always pretty popular.

[matsuki]

Ungrateful sods. I always get the cookies/chocolate fujis etc. Stuff that is not too weird. But the strawberry mochi is always pretty popular.

My thoughts exactly....even more when you consider how much it costs to load up on it and what a pain it is to lug it back with you.

[Greji]

My thoughts exactly....even more when you consider how much it costs to load up on it and what a pain it is to lug it back with you.

Come on Choko, use you imagination! You're an NA, at least part. Give 'em a couple of scalps to take home. They can't get them in LA (normally).

[matsuki]

Come on Choko, use you imagination! You're an NA, at least part. Give 'em a couple of scalps to take home. They can't get them in LA (normally).

I thought about that but hairless scalps with eczema aren't exactly a big hit with the tribe.

[Coligny]

Ungrateful sods. I always get the cookies/chocolate fujis etc. Stuff that is not too weird. But the strawberry mochi is always pretty popular.

Sakura mochi are mah fav's (we are talking aboot the big heavy rectangular sweets that you cut with a mini wood fork right ?)

[Mike Oxlong]

Some more interesting choices for Japan souvenirs...

Man on flight from Japan held in LA after smoke grenade, leg irons, body bags found in luggage

A man dressed in a bulletproof vest and flame-retardant pants was arrested by federal officials at Los Angeles International Airport after a smoke grenade, gas mask, leg irons and weapons were discovered in his luggage, authorities said Tuesday.

Boston-bound Yongda Huang Harris, 28, was arrested Friday on suspicion of transporting hazardous materials on a flight from Kansai International Airport in Osaka, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said.

Harris is a U.S. citizen whose permanent residence is in Boston and recently started living and working in Japan, officials said.

Harris’ initial court appearance, scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed to Friday. He has been charged with one count of transporting hazardous materials, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.

Federal authorities provided no details about why Harris might have been carrying the items. An investigation is ongoing.

Harris drew suspicion when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the airport noticed he was wearing the bulletproof vest and flame-retardant pants under his trenchcoat. The observation triggered a formal investigation by Homeland Security special agents.

In a search of Harris’ checked luggage, numerous suspicious items were uncovered, including knives, body bags, a hatchet, a collapsible baton, a biohazard suit, a full-face respirator, billy clubs, a respirator, handcuffs, leg irons and a device to repel dogs, authorities said.

The smoke grenade was subsequently X-rayed by the Los Angeles Police Department’s bomb squad. Officers said the device fell into a category that is prohibited on board passenger aircraft by the United Nations.

“Depending on the conditions when it is ignited, the smoke grenade, made by Commando Manufacturers, could potentially fill the cabin of a commercial airplane with smoke or cause a fire,” federal officials said in a news release.

Attempts to reach Harris’ family in Boston and his associates were unsuccessful.

Japan Today link