Gift giving stats in Japan

If you've ever felt like gifting quietly eats into your monthly budget here in Japan, you're not alone. A recent survey by MyVoice Communications (マイボイスコム) found that just over 60 percent of people in Japan gave at least one gift in the past year, with many giving multiple times. Along with balancing rent/mortgage payments, utilities, and daily living costs, gift giving is a real financial consideration.

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Birthdays are the most common reason for spending, with around 55 percent of respondents buying birthday gifts, but seasonal gifting also plays a major role. Traditional mid-year and year-end gifts such as Ochugen and Oseibo account for just under 40 percent of occasions. These gifts are often given to supervisors, clients, or extended family, and they tend to come with unspoken expectations about quality and price. For many households, this makes summer and winter noticeably more expensive.

Where people shop is also shifting. Nearly half of all gifts were purchased through online shops or mail order services, while department stores and specialty retailers each accounted for just under 30 percent. Younger shoppers are also increasingly using digital gift cards and e-gift services, which can be easier to budget for and avoid the pressure of in-store browsing.

When it comes to choosing a gift, most people prioritized whether the item suits the recipient and the occasion. I thought it was interesting that price wasn't the top concern, which can make it easy to overspend without realizing it. In saying that, many everyday gifts remain modest, such as snacks for coworkers, flowers as a thank-you, or surplus vegetables shared with neighbors.