Japanese Souvenirs
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63)
Wed 2008/02/06 01:13
When you visit Tokyo Tower, you will see miniature versions of the tower that can be purchased as a souvenir. If you visit Asakusa Shrine, you will find miniature versions of the main gates with that huge red lantern. So what is the typical souvenir that you should pick up when in Akihabara?
Well according to Asobit Game, the souvenir that you should be picking up for your friends are these different varieties of Tengas.
The table is labeled as "Akihabara Souvenirs" and has some eroge on the side which you may want to pick up at the same time.
The table is labeled as "Akihabara Souvenirs" and has some eroge on the side which you may want to pick up at the same time.
And while deciding what you should buy for your boss/teacher, you can also grope the bottom of this "attraction."
I remember when I first started to visit Japan - I wanted to spend all my money on idol DVDs and photo books meaning that the only souvenirs I picked up for friends were from 100 yen shops ^^;
For folks that have visited Japan - what sort of souvenirs did you pick up for friends/family.
And for folks who are going to visit Japan - what sort of stuff do you think you will pick up for the folks back home?
I remember when I first started to visit Japan - I wanted to spend all my money on idol DVDs and photo books meaning that the only souvenirs I picked up for friends were from 100 yen shops ^^;
For folks that have visited Japan - what sort of souvenirs did you pick up for friends/family.
And for folks who are going to visit Japan - what sort of stuff do you think you will pick up for the folks back home?
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marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:54)
I myself spend most my money on gundams. although I did get my friends some keychains, pens, ref magnets, skirts and of course a roll of hentai tissue paper. ^^
(ID #71559) Posted on 2008/02/06 00:48
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:54)
shirts! not skirts! darn it!
(ID #71560) Posted on 2008/02/06 00:49
CEO MIrai Inc
Seems like normal behavior - spent most of the money on your own goodies ^^; Skirts?
(ID #71561) Posted on 2008/02/06 00:50
CEO MIrai Inc
OK, we believe you ^^;
(ID #71562) Posted on 2008/02/06 00:51
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:54)
umm.. the last picture got to my head. ^^; lol
(ID #71563) Posted on 2008/02/06 00:55
lol
(ID #71564) Posted on 2008/02/06 01:00
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
I love 100 yen store! :P I want to buy things from there for myself LOL!!! my poison is fabrics (cute print fabrics) but when we go around we do keep our eyes peeled for items which is made in japan :P
(ID #71565) Posted on 2008/02/06 01:00
Um what does the poll question mean? If you sell souvenirs you buy for family and friends then what is point of buying them in the first place? Or do you mean sold your family and friends?? I would buy something in the 10 dollar range for friends and family.
(ID #71567) Posted on 2008/02/06 01:22
Haha; Danny you must code too much;
(ID #71568) Posted on 2008/02/06 01:22
Student Otaku (ITM Student) and ACG NA Staff
I'll be sure to pick that up when I go to Japan for a friend....LOL....
(ID #71569) Posted on 2008/02/06 01:31
Love the folks back home but when I went I spent all my money before I could get any good souvenirs hahaha... I remember I was bummed out that I pissed the Kureha order, and then there she was LOL!
(ID #71570) Posted on 2008/02/06 01:33
Alright! Eroge for my Mother! YES!
(ID #71571) Posted on 2008/02/06 01:40
Polytechnic Senior, Bronze Lifesaving Trainee, Mech Designer, Pokemon Indexer.
it'll get eroge for eveyone back home!! yoo hoo! or maybe i should get 100 yen souvenirs for my family and friends and use the rest of the money to purchase eroge.
(ID #71573) Posted on 2008/02/06 01:44
Web Developer/ウェブデベロッパー, Photographer/写真や
Usually the dolphin care products (ero doujins/manga) for the guys and kawaii stuff for the girls. The guys love the dolphin care products and always ask me to get more ^^; Maybe I should get them a tenga next.
(ID #71577) Posted on 2008/02/06 02:07
Well, when I visited Japan, I just picked up some things that my friends/family asked for. These ranged from things such as clothing, cameras, and rice cookers @_@. But then again, this isn't really buying souvenirs, it's more like getting a shopping list done for friends... in a foreign country.
(ID #71580) Posted on 2008/02/06 02:18
I'm thinking of getting good luck charms and love charms for souvenirs when I'm in Japan.
(ID #71582) Posted on 2008/02/06 02:31
Raven, AMV & MAD maker, Otaku
i was thinking of some small miniature statues as souveniers for my parents or family
(ID #71583) Posted on 2008/02/06 02:42
anime/cosplay events organizer
i'd buy some dolphin care products and some doujins ^____^
(ID #71585) Posted on 2008/02/06 02:56
Danny, you should have a contest and give some items away to the winner (as long as they pay shipping).. or not. Up to you! lol. But it would be epic to have Japanese souveniers to keep us focused on our plans of a trip to Japan (I know a lot of people have that plan someday).
(ID #71588) Posted on 2008/02/06 03:03
well... IF i ever get to Japan i'd probably get any Japanese souvenir since my mother luvs Japanese stuff (except :( Anime Figures & stuff) & for my dad i'd get the Japanese Ship Yamato model figure he's sooo in luv with Japanese ships
(ID #71589) Posted on 2008/02/06 03:25
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
At first I carefully selected gifts. Now I only get things for a few people. It's amazing how so many people become your friend when they know you are going to Japan. Recently I picked up a couple of GFFs for an old colleague of mine. He helped me out by introducing me to a few good people... Of course mom and dad always get something nice. The Tokyo Tower replicas are nice but someone would have to be deserving to get that from me. I remember Roy posted on this before: http://blog.q-taro.com/gadgets/your-very-own-tokyo-tower/#comments @marvin, you forgot to include that you brought home the girls in those skirts. ^^; Sorry I couldn't resist...
(ID #71591) Posted on 2008/02/06 03:38
nothing for my family... well, MAYBE some 100 yen stuff. will be willing to spend much more for my friends tho
(ID #71594) Posted on 2008/02/06 04:13
When I went to Japan, I brought some foodstuffs back; it can be shared, and isn't as heavy as things like mugs, though larger than things like keychains. Otherwise, I would spend the money on myself, unless someone places an order beforehand.
(ID #71595) Posted on 2008/02/06 05:04
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
For my family, I want to get a set of traditional Japanese clothing, like those hakama for boys and really cute kimono for girls. For colleagues, hmm.. the usual stuffs I guess.. dolphin care products for boys and cute stuffs for girls. Oh well, probably I won't have to think too much about souvenirs since if I'm going there, I'm most certainly going to go with my family anyway. ^^
(ID #71596) Posted on 2008/02/06 05:09
those are some interesting souvenirs... :)
(ID #71599) Posted on 2008/02/06 06:07
There are a lot of commodities wanting it in Akihabara!
(ID #71600) Posted on 2008/02/06 06:30
Heh, sounds familiar. When I was in Japan last August, bought so many eroges, books and stuff that it was already a problem to fit my own stuff to my baggage, not to mention any souvenirs (good thing I didn't buy those even in the first place :p). Well ok, I did buy some crappy souvenirs from the airport.
(ID #71602) Posted on 2008/02/06 07:00
LOL, omg, look at all the Tengas XD If anyone here has tried one, please let me know how it "feels" ^^; I'm curious as to how good they are As for souvenirs, for family, I would go to the clothing district, Shibuya (if I'm not mistaken?) THEN go to Akihabara and Kichijoji and splurge on Anime and Video Game stuff.
(ID #71604) Posted on 2008/02/06 07:37
JR. College Student
I would probably buy them something nice... maybe to my holiday shopping way in advance or something. Two birds with one stone. Person: "hey you didn't get me any souvenirs!" Me: "uh... it's um... shipping... yea.. it'll take months... lazy sea captains"
(ID #71605) Posted on 2008/02/06 08:14
Part trooper, part -timer, 100% loser...
1 tenga for each family member LOL~
(ID #71606) Posted on 2008/02/06 09:24
Student and full-time otaku
I'll probably have left all my money in Akiba so I won't be able to buy them anything XD
(ID #71607) Posted on 2008/02/06 09:51
Online Shop
For my family, I usually buy some Japanese snacks sold in duty free shops in Narita Airport, I just buy food so I don't end up buying stuffs they don't like. For friends that like anime, I buy them related goods from the series they like, such as Naruto or Bleach goods. As for myself, I buy doujinshi, ero manga, art book, figure, videogames and anything else that comes into my sight and that I love so much +_+
(ID #71608) Posted on 2008/02/06 10:00
Web Developer (i.e. Otaku)
I picked up some Maid Cookies for my co-workers. They thought they were very nice. While I was in Kamakura I saw lots of Japanese picking up those pigeon shaped biscuits.
(ID #71609) Posted on 2008/02/06 10:29
working to pay for figures etc.
Offering a bumper pack of w**k pots and an eroge as "Souvenirs of Akihabara" is probably appropriate, but doesn't do the place many favours...
(ID #71611) Posted on 2008/02/06 10:55
VF-25 Pilot. Universariate Scholar.
for the people back home, i got them some japanese food such as pocky and some delicacies such as scallops. for myself i got otaku realated stuff.(couldnt get doujins on my last trip though, parents were following me around. T-T)
(ID #71612) Posted on 2008/02/06 11:51
University Student.
I only bought back duty-free snacks from the airport for the family. As for my friends it's those 200 yen gashapon (those mini figures/handphone strap in a ball). Akiba and comiket drained all my cash so nothing much left to spend for souvenirs!!
(ID #71613) Posted on 2008/02/06 12:21
I remembered I bought my friends Omamori (I don't know what does it call in English...) , cost 300Yen each. Well, They aren't very expensive and they are souvenir that certainly show "They are from Japan". So, I think the next time would be same.
(ID #71614) Posted on 2008/02/06 12:26
Service desk support
When I went, i had to plan a second budget because so many ppl asked me for things. Thinking back, they varied from a Kimono (not that expensive since it's just the actual dress which was wanted and it wasn't one of the more expensive types. It's usually the obi (the belt part) which incurs the most cost anyway), A Pikachu cuddly toy (Pokemon was massively popular at the time and we had fun abusing it for a while), a japanese Vase (which took a whole day to find out due to the difference in pronounciation between american english and rest of the world english, and assorted other items. Didn't get any standard gifts as my family generally runs by the rule of "you don't ask, you don't get"
(ID #71616) Posted on 2008/02/06 13:07
五〇一軍团 TK8316 Singapore Garrison Public Relations Officer
if i'm in japan, the best souvenir to give to my family and mates back home will probably be something they can't find in singapore. like snow. yup, i'll give them each a bottle of snow. ('~')
(ID #71617) Posted on 2008/02/06 13:10
Scout Trooper
When I visited Japan I was lucky that my family told me they didn't want anything and to enjoy myself as it was my first time abroad. I still got them various things I thought they'd like (small trinkets and such). Only my brother wanted something specific which was a Japanese football shirt and I had fun trying to find one in Kumamoto and Tokyo. English shirts, no problem. Other team shirts, sure.. Japanese shirts, well after some searching I ended up finding one in a tiiiiny little shop near Akihabara. After that was done it was a case "oooo manga, buy! Artbooks, buy! and worry about being able to read them later." ^^
(ID #71618) Posted on 2008/02/06 13:20
For gals back home, it'll be stuff from shinjuku - jackets, etc.. For guys, they've probably already "ordered" stuff from me or i'll just get something funky and cool from akiba
(ID #71619) Posted on 2008/02/06 13:27
Software Engineer
I'm definitely getting my friends some tengas. I'll just let them figure it out themselves lol.
(ID #71620) Posted on 2008/02/06 14:34
My friends would probrably ask for Idol-DVD's and eroge... ^^ For my family it would be little torii as keychains and food.
(ID #71621) Posted on 2008/02/06 14:48
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
We got the usual stuff... cellphone cases and straps, tshirts, cup and other gifts. I must say I ended up keeping lots of stuff I bought to give to friends though.
(ID #71623) Posted on 2008/02/06 14:59
IT, Programmer, Otaku, ...
I usually bring a few or no souvenirs, depends on if they ask. But now I have a list of stuff I need to buy for some friends ^^; For the Japanese minded friends: Hello Kitty, Antic Cafe, Ayu, gazette, etc. For the other friends, they usually ask something typical: chopsticks, liquor, or even a thimble (had to look this word up ^^ and yes you can find these if you look hard, in one of those shops at Senso-ji temple Asakusa)
(ID #71624) Posted on 2008/02/06 15:29
I'd go for the classical gifts... And anime-related ones to family members who are crazy about anime (there are two of them I think). By the way parents went to Japan some years ago and bought me squat. Guess Akihabara didn't go into their plans. So sad. Ah well.
(ID #71627) Posted on 2008/02/06 16:03
Hey, what a question ! I buy a big box full with many nice figures, smile ...and some times later I see my custom officer with a large grin on his face..
(ID #71628) Posted on 2008/02/06 16:47
Lol, I have too many otaku friends, I'd end up with such a list of things to get if I went to Japan, It'd be like taking orders. As for family, I'd probably just get some mudane souvenirs. Certainly none of those! That'd be so weird.
(ID #71630) Posted on 2008/02/06 17:57
I have a pair of friends who wiil love this kind of stuff for sure, specially the tengas
(ID #71635) Posted on 2008/02/06 20:13
Since I'm gonna be going with most of my otaku friends, I doubt I'm gonna have to buy any otaku stuff for the people back at home. Hell, after getting all the figures/games/photo books I want, I probably won't have any money left for anyone else anyway. As sly as it is, methinks I'll be following your 100-yen-souvenir example, Danny!
(ID #71636) Posted on 2008/02/06 20:34
As Kazos I too won't buy anything for my folks. My friends are coming with me and the folks that stay behind won't like the stuff I'd get them :s
(ID #71638) Posted on 2008/02/06 22:00
I usually give my friends those free tissue paper packet (ads for High Speed internet, cellphone service... etc...) I got on the Akiba street as souvenirs... :-P
(ID #71639) Posted on 2008/02/06 22:50
If I was buying ANYTHING, it would be kimonos for my nieces, but since I have three, and I'd rather buy 4 massages for the same amount (kimonos are very expensive, for what I can find online), I might simply not tell them I went to Japan (if I did). Hey Danny, I understand that it is traditional and good manners to bring gifts to people you're meeting the first time, etc., when going to Japan. My question is, what do you bring to Japan??? I mean, I'm from the U.S., what on earth do WE have that a Japanese person would want? Haha. Oh, and on a side note, my sister once was an exchange student HOST, for a Japanese student. She ended up getting a Japanese Geishi Doll as a gift from that student (no, no a sex toy). It was REALLY nice, looked like well over 200 bucks worth.
(ID #71641) Posted on 2008/02/07 00:15
I'd just get traditional/practical stuff for gifts. Most of the "Otaku stuff" they would actually want would be expensive and/or difficult to transport.
(ID #71646) Posted on 2008/02/07 01:00
I'll probably bring some Japanese snacks back for them!!~ X3 *only applies if I could left enough $^$*
(ID #71691) Posted on 2008/02/07 12:03
I love AsoBit soo much ^_^ Its where i got all my gurren lagann goodness, AsoBitCity number 3 i believe, the one near KFC xD And i also got souvenirs for family from there, but i chose to play it safe and get them Sunshine buddies, the little things that sway their heads from side to side when in sunlight. ^_^
(ID #71700) Posted on 2008/02/07 14:22
Unfortunately, my family is not big on gifts or souvenirs. I would not expect to return the favor too. I might buy a few traditional items, but nobody would respect my buying choices when I do. So I typically buy them for myself. No need to worry about not-work-safe items!
(ID #71732) Posted on 2008/02/08 07:19
the only problem I have when selecting souvenirs for family and friends is the limited amount of money that I always seem to be plagued with (single father of four and such). As a result, I am forced to bypass the unique stuff and select from the shelves of cheap junk. I must say, I really like this site. I've learned more about Japan since discovering this site than I ever had.
(ID #71882) Posted on 2008/02/09 16:16
Working for the Man
thank god my friends and family know that i'll only get them something useful or exclusive. a Yomiuri Giants cell phone strap, or a CLASH poster in japanese. My friends still use these things and will treasure them forever. I wont get them some junk because it just sits in the corner collecting dust.
(ID #72855) Posted on 2008/02/22 05:44
100 yen shops are a whole lot nicer than dollar stores. And the 100 makes it sound sorta expensive as long as no one knows the converstion of yen. ^_^
(ID #154195) Posted on 2008/03/11 07:12
One day I will visit Japan!
(ID #183210) Posted on 2008/05/08 03:26
Once i bought fish-oil vitamins for my grandma. Yup, that's about it.
(ID #192905) Posted on 2008/05/21 14:11
well, I bought mostly candy that cant be found back home. I personally think its most practical to buy food stuff =/
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