JET Program Vlog #19 - omiyage おみやげ -bringing gifts to Japan

[106460]

kitchy? chinsey?

what are those words you use at 2:44 ?

[myargonauts]

yep - kitschy and chintzy

[106460]

thank you!

I am studying English.

I enjoy your videos very much!

[DaddyRossPreschool]

I was wondering if you have an ecomerce in ebay or in another site who sells stickers/notebook/etc from JAPAN to the rest of the world.

[myargonauts]

you want to buy stuff from Japan? The best website I've seen (and bought from) is jbox(dot)com

try that and see if they have what you're looking for.

[DaddyRossPreschool]

Exactly! I am going insane with all the "weird and fun " (as they call them)gadgets to make Bentos!!!

Bento means a light supper?

Can be cold or hot?

[OhMySavy]

A bento is a lunchbox.

[Earmark]

I can see stickers being all well and good for junior high or elementary, but what do you bring for high schoolers??

[myargonauts]

if you're thinking of things to give as prizes in class, then school related stuff, like erasers and souvenir pencils work well. Of course, I even give high schoolers stickers when I occasionally visit and they usually laugh and enjoy getting them since it's so unusual. :)

[Youindia]

You brought enough jam to cover six people? :D

[myargonauts]

haha - yes! And they were delicious! :P

[brookchelmo]

I just responded with a video of my wife bringing Omiyage to my cousins kids. It is Japanese culture at work.

[myargonauts]

very cool! thanks!

[YUQUING]

lol "Please like me..."

[midori1]

Thanks! That was really helpful!

[42317]

I brought replicas of Roman coins as my university is situated in Germany's oldest town, Trier, which had been the Roman Empire's capital for a few years. Small and easy to handle, they were pretty popular.

And I brought a real French Munster cheese, which had been deposited in my kitchen for 6 weeks even before I arrived in Japan. Since I'm a cheese freak I thought the smell was great, but I knew that any Japanese would drop dead after a sniff, so I gave it to a German assistant professor. :-)

[sintaks]

I really enjoy your vlog. I've always wanted to live/work in Japan... but then I quit college to make lots of money... which puts me in a tough spot when it comes to acquiring a work visa in Nippon. I shall live vicariously through you!

[myargonauts]

thanks!

It's never too late to go back to school and get your degree - I didn't get mine until I was 34.

[Dominilucy]

I am bringing the kids since I will be teaching JR High, book marks, I have many manga book marks and such so I hope they will like that. I am bringing some paper weights and even liquor :-). By the way, what kind of bag did you put the chocolate in? I am going to bring some chocolates I bought through wholesale and I didn't want them to melt.. Thank you for the vlog. Your awesome!

[myargonauts]

sounds good!

See's Candies sells an insulated bag - it's silver on the inside. I don't think it was expensive.

[lleverfreell]

I'm from Canada, so I think I'll bring some maple syrup products as omiyage if I get accepted into the JET program. :)

Thanks for another wonderfully informative video!

[myargonauts]

you're welcome. :)

Maple syrup itself is very expensive here, like 800yen for a very small bottle, since it's imported.

I always bring a big bottle of Mrs Butterworth or some American syrup back with me when I visit home for when I make pancakes or french toast.

[WhiteMatrix2006]

Good video. I didn't think food would be a great gift but apparently it is. Stickers is a good idea as gifts for the kids during the games you play with them. Thanks for all the advice.

-Billy-

[DeathfireD]

I heard Maple Candy is a big hit as gifts, is that true?

[myargonauts]

If you're from Canada or somewhere that makes maple syrup - yeah I think that would be a great gift to bring.

[DeathfireD]

I'm from NH which is big on Maple syrup, candy's, and tapping trees.

PS. The Dark Knight was amazing! You definitely need to see it when it comes out in Japan.

[petchay8099]

love stickers too!

thanks for the videos jason =D

[NinkeKuN]

Yeah I really miss the previous videos you had :/ It was fun to watch the kids x3 I hope you can upload them again someday. But I also like your VLOGS about Japan, keep on with it.

[myargonauts]

thanks - glad you stuck around. :)

[attrition2113]

Thank you so much. As always very informative and helpful.

[matman125]

The Knott's jelly actual tastes very good. There were a few sitting my fridge for about a year and it tasted great on it's own.

I wouldn't know what to bring, but the chocolate candy idea seems like safe route to take if you don't want to lose sleep over it.

[jessman1999]

I live in Upstate New York in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. How do you think hard apple cider would go over? That is really the only thing I can think of giving that is of any "coolness".

[myargonauts]

sure - but remember that you have limited room in your luggage, you don't want to bring anything too heavy, and wrap them carefully if in bottles so nothing breaks.

[jRockdragOngirL]

Hi! I was wondering what would be good prizes/omiyage for high schoolers? I've already bought omiyage for the teachers at my school, but dunno what to do about the students. Thanks, and great video as always!

[myargonauts]

believe it or not, but stickers still work with some HS kids - moreso the girls. school supplies are safe - erasers, pencils, etc. I bought a bunch of pencils at the SD Zoo, and more with the Padres and Chargers logo on them and have used these for my older kids.

[MessagesFromEarth]

The JETs leaving from the Chicago Consulate went nuts a a couple months ago trying to figure out what to bring. We were all under the impression that this is something that was required and would take a lot of thought. Thanks for mellowing me out about this. I always thought it was kind of weird for people to expect you (someone they don't even know) to bring them presents

[KingSaint]

you always get it wrong

[myargonauts]

the pointing to the box? yeah - not sure why I can't remember that... early senior moment. LOL

[pedoro4477]

great vid ^_^ i always wondered about what type of things to bring^_^

[myargonauts]

thanks