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Gift Exchange Etiquette Advice -
09-10-2009, 04:12 AM
I leave Saturday for Japan- yay!!! But I need some quick advice. I work in the animal care department of an aquarium and while in Japan I will be visiting Kaiyukan, the aquarium in Osaka. Someone high up in my company contacted someone there so my group and I will be given a behind scenes tour and possibly do some fun things here and there (this stuff is very typical in my field). Anyway- I will be bringing gifts to give to those who guide us at the aquarium. My question is- what is the proper etiquette for saying thank you and giving the gifts? Business card exchange then gifts right after? And if I recieve a gift from them what is the proper etiquette: open it then and there, say thanks and politely put it away? And is there a better way to say thank you than "Domo arigato"?
Please help... I really do want to be as polite and respectful as possible. I am afterall representing my company (on a somewhat unofficial level). Thanks much in advance! 
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09-10-2009, 05:58 AM
i've seen both the gift giving at first meet and gift giving later, but i seem to have experienced more gift giving right after introductions and business cards. since your visit is work related i think you can give them the gifts right after the business cards, like " and by the way we brought you a little souvenir from our aquarium".
if youre talking about the actual guides who take you around, if its not the boss, you can give them the gift at the end of the tour. recieving is a bit more work,... look surprised, fawn over it, without opening, say oh you really didnt have to, but thank you very very very much and throw in as much bowing as you can. i'm sure others will chime in with a fancier thank you than domo arigatogozaimashita. gifts are always opened later. chuck a fish a smaller fish for me, and i hope you have a good time there.
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09-11-2009, 11:24 AM
yay!
do dolphins sleep?
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09-12-2009, 10:46 PM
You always want to downplay the significance of the gift..... the standard Japanese to Japanese phrase for this is......
"Kore wa tsumarinai mono desu ga, demo dozo......." and hand it to them. It means this is really a little nothing, but here you go. Not too many westerners know or use that one in that setting. It usually surprises a Japanese person that you know to say that.  Don't expect someone to open a present you have given in your presence. Although if they are trying to be "western" sometimes they will, because they know that you likely will "expect" it. Usually it is opened later privately. Because you are a westerner, they likely will expect YOU to open something though. As to the timing....... just use your "intuition" about the right timing. best, ..................john
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09-13-2009, 02:21 AM
Good advice as usual, JBaymore.
Just to add something no one has mentioned yet..... Don't thank the person who has given you a present too quickly. Apologize! That is if you want to do this the Japanese style. If you thank so readily, you will look like you were expecting the gift, trust me. Your first words MUST be of apology. Recommended plan (and I'm not kidding): Apologize Apologize Thank Apologize Thank and Apologize If you have any doubt about this, you don't know enough Japanese.
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09-13-2009, 03:36 PM
Quote:
First step in "fitting in" in japan: Learn the 20 million ways of apologizing.  best, ...............john
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09-13-2009, 04:30 PM
Quote:
なんてしつけいいこいいけつしてんな。
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