A Japanese Custom that Aids Smooth Socialization

The Japanese make use of various customs in order to aid smooth socialization. One of these is the custom of sending greeting cards to people you have not seen for a long time. Japanese send "Shochuu Mimai" greeting cards in summer and a "Nengajou" greeting card on New Year's Day. These special greeting cards are available at post offices. Since thousands of people send these cards each year, greeting cards with various pre-printed designs and greeting words can be purchased at stationary and other shops.

Recently, many new kinds of custom-made, card printing computer software have gone on sale and the number of people who print greeting cards using their personal computers is increasing. However, since a computer-generated card can give a cold impression, many people prefer to add a handwritten greeting, or write the entire card by hand without using a personal computer. Cards are usually handwritten when the sender wants to impart a friendly or caring feeling to the receiver.

These days, some people send greeting cards by e-mail, but this method of delivery obviously does not impart the same warm feeling as mailing a card. Exchanging cards by e-mail may be no problem between young people, however in general, elderly people will not be too impressed to receive a card in this fashion. Sending these greeting cards will play an important role in aiding socialization and strengthening relationships with people the sender has not seen for a long time. The sender, meanwhile, is able to show that the receiver has not been forgotten.

Present Giving Customthat Even Companies Make Use of
The Japanese have another custom of sending presents to those whom they are thankful to. A summer present is called "Ochuugen," and the winter present "Oseibo." The times of the year when these presents are exchanged coincides with the time when many employees receive a bonus. Therefore, many department stores create a special present corner, since this is an excellent time to increase sales. Items ranging in price between 1,000 yen and 10,000 yen are most popular.

Although the range of items is diverse, commonly sold presents will contain consumable items such as special products from districts around Japan, food, beverages and soaps of big-name brand companies. In Japan, where most households already have all the products they need, only a very few people send presents besides consumable items for fear that the receiver may already possess it or not like it. Some people hand deliver presents directly, but recently it has become common to deliver them using a home-delivery service organized by the department store concerned.

This custom of giving presents is carried out not only among individuals, but also between companies who send them to their customers and business acquaintances. Although presents are generally sent directly to specific staff or executives at companies, some businesses send them directly to the recipients' houses with the aim of making a strong impression. During economic depressions, many companies cut their gift budget. Furthermore, some companies forbid their employees from receiving these presents as they think there is the possibility of the creation of back-scratching alliances and unhealthy business connections.

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