Handmade Scarf = Fruitcake of Japanese Christmas Presents

I read one of the most recent translated survey results from What Japan Thinks and it was about what kinds of Christmas presents Japanese people would be the least happy to receive on Christmas. I was curious about what the “fruitcake” of Japan might be. To my surprise, hand-knitted sweaters were high on the list of unwanted presents for both male and female respondents.

Handmade sweaters? I was surprised because I think it’s a thoughtful gift and would be happy to get a hand-knitted scarf. (though I understand that my style goes well with homemade/vintage things and someone who is used to wearing Louis Vuitton wouldn’t want to look like they have Granny’s warmth around their neck all winter long.)

Anyway, yesterday, I ate dinner with one of my friends and asked him what he thinks would top Japan’s list as the least desirable Christmas present. To my surprise, he answered right away, without even thinking, “hand-knitted scarf”. I was so surprised. Is it that common in Japan for girls to give others hand-knitted scarves for Christmas?

Not surprisingly, other runner-ups for unwanted gifts were DVDs and CDs you’ve never heard of, cheap accessories and clothes that don’t suit your style. High on the list for both sexes was “dinner at a posh restaurant we don’t normally go to” and my friend said that he agreed and that he’d love being given that, too.

I think that the best presents are usually experiences. A plane ticket, a short weekend trip or a spa day are usually my absolute favorite presents. Some nice presents are things I wouldn’t normally buy for myself but appreciate so much, like the iPod Jesse got me and the Bose speakers Jack got me or the durian fruit that Atsushi got me. Now that I live in Japan, the best presents are experiences I can do with people I love, like when my dad and grandparents bought me a plane ticket home in the summer or when my mother and father flew to Japan to see me.