What is the name of this Japanese gift-giving custom?

Question

I heard from a former boss that there is this custom Japanese people have of exchanging and giving little gifts. It includes giving away gifts that you received from others, like you receive the little item (a fancy paperweight or a small vase or small piece of art or whatever), you keep it and use and enjoy it for awhile, then on another occasion you give it to someone else. It's like a long-standing tradition of re-gifting by passing things along over and over. Is there a name for this custom?

Answer 1

The Japanese love to give gifts. This habit is not practiced only on special occasions, but it's widely accepted as 'giri' - a social duty and obligation. Gift-giving is an accepted practice encountered everyday, from taking a little something to a neighbor to receiving an extra radish from the greengrocer. If you give someone a gift, you can be sure to receive one in return. And, if you want a gift, you must give one first.

Answer 2

This is called "Chugen" or "Oseibo". Chugen is in June or July. Oseibo is in December, near the end of the year. At each one of the above occasions, people must give a gift to their boss or someone they are indebted to. The person who receives a gift, then will return a gift equal to half the amount of the gift they received. (Yes, after someone receives a gift, they will visit the department store where it was purchased, research the price of what they received, and will then buy an "Okaeshi" or return gift equal to half the amount.

It is quite "mysterious" that these gift giving occassions occur right after everyone receives their semiannual bonuses...

When I lived in Japan, this was a never-ending headache because I had to remember what I gave to who, what I received in return, what I received, and what I gave in return. EVERY YEAR! If only there were PCs and database software back then...

Answer 3

Presento (heh,heh)