Gaijin Gifts

Posted on 21. May, 2006 @ 11:39 pm by in Crazy Consumers Views: 181

According to the variety store The Loft in Osaka, these happy yet powerful sumo figurines are now the number two gift to buy for friends not lucky enough to be living in Japan.

I just noticed these funny wooden sumo miniatures in Loft last week, but I have actually had one in my room in Iowa for more than 10 years now… A gift from my host family back when I was an exchange student with YFU. They’re still being produced… And people are still buying them. Amazing. Isn’t it?

Considering the fact that you’d probably exceed the luggage weight limit at the airport if you tried to bring back a real sumo, these figures are a nice alternative at 15$ a piece.
So sumo is number 2 huh? You must be wondering what number 1 was. Here it is.

Behold. GAIKOKU E NO OMIYAGE NINKI NO. 1!
The greatest gift anyone in Japan can bring back for their Japan-o-phile friends out in the gaikoku.


Flowery picture frame. いらねぇぇぇぇ〜よ！

So, what would you want someone to bring as a gift from Japan?

I would rather have a full set of Ramenz videos!
- Harvey

  • http://pixelscribbles.com/journal Heather Meadows

    Hmm, I kind of like the sumo wrestlers! But if someone was bringing me back something, I’d prefer a kokeshi. They’re so cute!

  • http://funarg.nfshost.com/ Mike Wilson

    In 1993 I visited the Buddha heads in Usuki (near Oita) and was stunned by the beautiful tea sets in a shop there. I don’t need a tea set; I don’t drink tea, but I still think about going back and buying one of those. Besides, the biggest buddha heads were away being renovated.

    Great bamboo forest there, too.

  • http://www.japannewbie.com harvey

    I have never been to Usaki, and I do drink a lot of tea… Maybe I should check it out. What else is in Usaki? Is the main attraction the Buddha heads? What can we eat there? ;-)

    What is kokeshi??

  • http://sparkplugged.net Shay

    …how fun! I’d think about gettin’ them. :)

  • joe

    Sadly, since Akebono retired, there are no actual rikishi that are that fat anymore.

  • kika

    how have u been harvey?
    pic frame is no1 ?! USODAAAA~ haha

  • http://ameblo.jp/megabucks megabucks

    it ain’t omiyage i guess, momiage! :p

  • chris

    Can anyone point me in the right direction if I wanted to purchase the miniature wooden sumo figurines…I’ve looked online and can’t seem to find them.

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