The Japanese Year-End Gift Guide, according to local shoppers

December is just around the corner, and here in Japan isn't just about Christmas presents. It's also the season for oseibo, the traditional year-end gifts exchanged as a way of showing appreciation to people who have supported you throughout the year.

A new survey of 1000 Japanese adults aged 30 to 70 gave a little glimpse into what people like giving and receiving, if you need some purchasing inspiration! Ham and sausages came out on top as the most appreciated gifts, followed by beer and Western-style sweets. These categories also featured among the most popular choices for people planning to send gifts this year.

It's not just Christmas pressies in Japan, but oseibo gifts, too!

For those who are participating in the tradition, the most common budget is between ¥4,000 and ¥5,000 per gift. The timing matters, too. More than half of planned purchases are expected to take place between late November and early December, with 84.1% of respondents intending to arrange their gifts by early December.

The survey also found that oseibo is largely a personal tradition, with family members and relatives the most common recipients. Work-related gifts to bosses and business contacts were much less common among respondents.

For us as foreign residents, oseibo can be another unfamiliar part of Japan's end-of-year customs. If you're thinking of taking part, a food hamper or something the recipient can enjoy sharing is a good place to start!