What Souvenirs or gifts from the USA should I bring to my Japanese colleagues?

In Japan, there’s the cultural tradition of gift giving or omiyage. This practice centers around gratitude and giving thanks towards family, friends, and coworkers. For workplace omiyage, it often takes the form of individually wrapped local foods that could be enjoyed by multiple people. While it is not expected of foreigners who visit, it is noticed and appreciated. Giving a small gift will often be thought of as demonstrating a level of cultural understanding and appreciation of the receiver.

The key to identifying a great gift to bring is one that is sharable and unique. Practicality is also highly valued and appreciated in Japanese society, as homes are small, so items that serve a purpose and are beautiful are greatly appreciated.

USA holidays like Valentines day and Halloween are times when special seasonal candies and merchandise are often available. Japan has a deep appreciation for the seasons, which is apparent with the many seasonal flavors of food in Japan. Thus, when selecting a gift, if there is a seasonal option with seasonal packaging, flavors, or even shapes, select this option over a more traditional offering. It makes the gift even more thoughtful and special. 

Consider how you will be traveling. It is generally good to avoid items that are fragile, such as sauces in glass bottles, food that may crumble or become squished in transit, as it could be seen as careless to give a “broken” food item. Ensure you are mindful of Japanese customs regulations, and avoid bringing products with meat and fruits—even dried.

Japanese gifts, even those that are shared are often beautifully packaged, and if it is food for sharing, the individual wrappers are also nicely designed. Finding this level of attention to detail in individually wrapped products from the USA can be difficult, but the presentation of one’s gift is something to consider. Curating several items in a small gift bag is a great way to enhance the receiver's experience.

USA items that make a great gift in Japanese business contexts:

Souvenir	Why It Works	Shareability	Portability
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups	Classic American candy and easy to distribute	★★★	★★★
Trader Joe’s Canvas Tote	Practical and distinctive	★☆☆	★★★
Ghirardelli Chocolates	Gift-like packaging and individually wrapped chocolates	★★★	★★★
Rice Krispies Treats	Fun American snack that's different from typical Japanese snacks	★★☆	★★★
Cheez-It / Goldfish	A savory alternative to sweets	★★★	★★★
Something From Your State	Unique, personal, and meaningful	★★☆	★★☆

1. Peanut Butter Cups

Source: TokudAw Original

Reese’s peanut butter cups are a sweet small delight of a souvenir that are easily shareable which makes it perfect if you’re planning to bring souvenirs for a good amount of people. 

The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is strongly associated with American snacks which makes Reese’s a fun and familiar way to introduce your colleagues to American treats. Peanut butter can be expensive in Japan, so items with this flavor are often appreciated. 

Why bring them?

• Easy to share with a group

• Small and lightweight

• Recognizable American candy

• Available in larger multipacks 

• Available in unique seasonal sizes and shapes

We recommend this snack only in the cooler months. If you are traveling to Japan in the summer, the Reese’s may melt. Often Japanese convenience stores don’t sell chocolate snacks in the summer months for this reason. For the receiver, opening and eating a melted chocolate bar delivers more of a mess than a reward, which may impact the original gift giving intention. 

2. Trader Joe’s Canvas Tote

Source: Trader Joe’s Website

If you’re looking for something that isn’t food, a Trader Joe’s canvas tote bag can make a surprisingly fun and familiar souvenir. 

These totes are gaining popularity by the minute in Japan, mostly because it is unavailable but also because it is eco-friendly. Japanese people are quite conscious about being sustainable because in some cases, customers must bring their own bag or buy a bag at the store if they don’t have one. Many tourist locations Japanese people frequent also sell small lunch-box size tote bags as souvenirs. Trader Joe’s canvas bags come in multiple sizes, the mini one is a similar size to the popular lunch bag. Thus the Trader Joe’s canvas tote is the perfect omiyage (souvenir) to give if you are targeting a small handful of colleagues.

If the mini-tote is not available, Trader Joe’s stores also have a reusable plastic bag with local motifs. These designs are appreciated because they celebrate the regional culture of the USA, something that Japanese people often appreciate doing within their own country. 

Why bring them?

• Reusable and practical

• Widely recognizable in Japanese society

• Makes a more memorable individual gift

• A good alternative if you don’t want to bring food

• Flat and lightweight, making them easy to transport

3. Ghirardelli Chocolates

Source: TokudAw Originals

Like Reese’s peanut butter cups, Ghirardelli chocolates are easily shareable amongst colleagues as it is individually packaged. 

This is perfect if you’re from San Francisco as it is a San Francisco-based chocolate company which would represent where you are coming from. 

Ghirardelli is a strong option if you want something that looks a little more gift-like than a bag of everyday candy like Reese’s. These squares can be purchased in a multi-pack with several flavors from stores like Costco.

Why bring them?

• Individually wrapped that is easy to share

• Gift-friendly packaging

• Easy to divide

• Suitable for both causal and more formal workplace settings

• Seen as slightly more premium, but not “overdoing” it

We caution selecting this item for gift-giving in the summer months because the chocolate may melt.

4. Rice Krispies Treats

Source: TokudAw Original

Rice Krispies Treats are a fun American snack to bring to Japan and a little unique. The snack is a surprising experience to Japanese people who appreciate eating rice, but are surprised to experience rice as a sweet treat with a gooey texture. 

Despite being made with puffed rice, they are quite different from the rice-based snacks such as rice crackers that are easily found in Japan. The combination of crispy rice cereal, marshmallow, and sweetness could give your Japanese colleagues the contrast between Japanese snacks with American snacks. Although this snack is sweet, it is not as sweet as other snacks from the USA, which is something that is appreciated. 

Why bring them?

• An unusual snack for colleagues to try

• Individually packaged

• Easy to transport

• A good option for summer gift-giving

• Familiar ingredients presented in an American way

• Often comes in seasonal packaging

• A good conversation starter

• Less sweet than other snacks

5. Cheez-It or Goldfish Crackers

Source: Pepperidge Farm

If you’re looking to give something that is not sweet, Cheez-It or Goldfish could be the way. 

Despite not being the most convenient snacks to bring, they can be particularly fun if your colleagues are interested in trying American snacks or if you want to give your office a selection of different foods. When considering these snacks, look for the snacks that are bulk packaged, as they will often come in an extra box that can prevent the crackers from breaking in transit. You can get the smaller packages for easier workplace sharing. 

Japan has some cheese flavored items, but this flavor is not often found in savory items, thus it often brings a surprising new taste experience to those who try it.

Why bring them?

• A savory alternative to candy

• Fun for colleagues to try

• Easy to share

• Can be included as part of a larger American snack assortment

• Sometimes has seasonal packaging

6. Something local from your state

Source: TokudAw Original

One of the best souvenirs from the US is not a famous American brand at all. 

If there's a local business, artisan, sports team, food producer, coffee roaster, bakery, or craft shop you know in your state or city, you can consider bringing something from them. It is without a doubt that they would appreciate it as much as they would any other thing in this list. 

Depending on where you live, this could be:

• A regional snack (expect items with meat, as you can not bring this into Japan)

• Local chocolate or candy (e.g. Taffy)

• Coffee (avoid flavored coffees)

• Tea

• Honey or jam, spice or flavor (e.g. maple)

• Small handmade crafts

• A state-themed magnet or keychain

• Postcards featuring your hometown

• A small locally made household item

• An item representing the local sports team, especially baseball

This is also a great opportunity to introduce your colleagues or clients to somewhere in the US that they may not be as familiar with.
Baseball trinkets can be especially popular because Japan also has a professional baseball league. Many people are aware of major USA baseball teams such as the Dodgers, Yankees, and Red Sox, as there are several Japanese-born players who play for the major league teams in the USA.

Why bring it?

• Personal and thoughtful

• Represents your home or region

• Supports local businesses

• Gives you something to talk about with your colleagues

• Doesn’t feel like a generic tourist souvenir

You generally don’t have to overthink your souvenir. The gesture itself is what is important and most of the time your colleagues would appreciate whatever you decide to bring them. 

However, always be careful of any allergies and/or dietary restrictions your colleagues may have. It is also better to bring too much rather than too little. 

FAQs

Do I have to bring expensive souvenirs for my colleagues? Not necessarily. It is also important to think about the context that you are giving these souvenirs for. However, generally omiyage does not need to be expensive to be meaningful. Make sure it’s the thought behind bringing something back that would reflect in your gift. It is also important you are aware of your company’s ethics regulations. An expensive gift may not adhere to the policies, whereas often a small item valued at less than a few dollars is acceptable.

Should I buy an individual gift for every Japanese coworker? Not necessarily. If you're bringing something for a larger office or department, a box or bag of individually wrapped treats can be placed in a shared area. For a smaller team or colleagues or clients you work with closely, individual gifts can be a more personal option. 

What should I avoid bringing as a souvenir? Avoid anything that is difficult to transport, highly perishable, or likely to create problems at customs (meat products, dairy products, fresh fruits, and vegetables). You should also consider allergies and dietary restrictions when you’re bringing food.

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