Mother's Day in Japan dominated by flowers as gifts

Mother's Day gifting in Japan tends to follow a fairly familiar pattern, especially when you look at it through the lens of a recent survey from wellness brand Mariness.

Flowers (particularly carnations) still lead the way by a wide margin, followed by sweets and shared meals. As for spending, people typically shell out somewhere in the 3,000 to 5,000 yen range. For expats navigating Mother's Day here (maybe for a for a partner's mother or extended family) I think it often becomes a question of staying within these unwritten norms rather than trying to stand out.

There was also a sense of uncertainty in the study, with around 70% of men in the survey saying they struggle to choose a gift, with many unsure of what would actually make the recipient happy. That tends to push choices back toward the usual options like flowers, chocolates, or a meal together.

At the same time, there's a clear sense that these gifts don't always match what's needed. Many women reported feeling tired in their daily lives, with sleep coming through as the main way they'd most like to recover (this would be my #1 pick, too!). 

Do you opt for reliable gifting traditions, or do you try and delve more into what a recipient might really need for an occasion like Mother's Day?