Meet the Parents: Sino-Japanese Relations Edition

[Timexwatch]

Situation:

I'm headed to Japan next Tuesday for almost two weeks of vacation in and around central Honshu (Kanagawa prefecture if that means anything to anyone). Besides experiencing Mega-Tokyo, kanchos, grabby chikans, manga porn and girls in 8 inch platform shoes, I'll be meeting the girlfriend's parents for the first time. So I have two questions:

One: What do I get her parents as a "Hi, I'm dating your daughter!" gift? I could use some advice from the Chinese posters because her mother is from Shanghai and her father grew up Japanese in Shanghai and then moved to Japan 20-something years ago. I've been told to be color conscious among other things (i.e. white objects are out, red is auspicious and good). What's a nice gift to give that's either unique to Japan or shows attention to the family's Chinese background? Right now all I have are beans (something I've been told to get) and decent wine, which is an all right gift except after a glass and a half she and her parents are probably trashed, which means I pick up the slack. I'm sure I can do better than those two...

Two: What's interesting to see in central Honshu in and around Yokohama and Tokyo? Kamakura is on the list, and a trip to an onsen is also a possibility, but what is worth my time? I'd like to be able to make suggestions instead of being lead along. I hate to be chauvinistic, but I hate female-planned vacations. I'm afraid if I don't get my picks in now, the only place I'll get to go is the Sapporo brewery.

Anyway, thanks for the advice and kudos to the East Asian posters!

[laurentius]

Whatever you get them for present make sure its wrapped nicely


This might be a place to visit

[Verto]

[C0ckney]

[KrazyHorse]

[DRoseDARs]

Oh my.

[joncha]

Verto wins the thread.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by joncha
Verto wins the thread.

Absolutely

[Nanimo]

I'd suggest getting something really nice that's unique to your part of the world. There's no point in giving them something that they could easily find themselves, probably cheaper and higher quality.

Bringing a really thoughtful gift from home would bring to them a little touch of yourself. Also, if they're anything like Chinese parents, then they'd love the chance to bring out the "high quality REAL Belgian luxury chocolates actually from Belgium" or "real Stroopwaffels from Holland" when having tea with their friends or neighbours, things that their future son in law brought them.

White flowers, mirrors, shoes and clocks are definite no-nos.

As someone mentioned earlier, I believe wrapping and presentation for the Japanese is really important. Not "quite" so important for Chinese, but still nice.

As for the drinking thing, I was under the impression that a fair number of Japanese people drink like fishes....

[Nanimo]

http://www.awesomecreations.com/gift-giving-etiquette.htm

http://www.1worldglobalgifts.com/japangiftgivingetiquette.htm

[Drake Tungsten]

Kamakura and Nikko are the two nicest sites near Tokyo. Nikko's a bit farther away from Tokyo than Kamakura is, though, so you'd probably have to make an overnight trip.

I wish I had more suggestions for you, but I hate Kanto like every good Kansai-jin should. Really liked Kamakura though, even if no one there knows that their Hase-dera is nothing compared to the original.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by joncha
Verto wins the thread.

QFT

[Ted Striker]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bosh]

If Korea's anything to go on, you can't go wrong with good whiskey

[Seeker]

What about that blue ****, the 'super-sake'?

I'd bring them either 8 of something or something with the number 8 on it.

And...maybe pass on the 'Enola Gay' Greeting Card?