Japanese Culture - giving things topeople who compliment them?

Question

Can anyone share their experiences or direct me to a resource where I can learn more about this? It seems like such an intersting, wonderful thing to do.

I just heard that it is common in Japanese culture to give a person an item you own if they compliment it. I'm not talking about "Oh, nice Mercedes. Can I have it?" kind of greediness.

I'm curious because I often give away household items, small things, etc. to people who compliment them, because it makes me happy to make them happy. Sometimes I feel akward about doing it though, like maybe it was just an idle compliment and now they are stuck with this -thing-.

Thank you!

Can anyone share their experiences or direct me to a resource where I can learn more about this? It seems like such an intersting, wonderful thing to do.

Answer 1

I know the arabs do this, my father worked in Egypt and was briefed on how not to be too complimentary about things or else egyptians would give them to him and be insulted if he refused to take them. I saw it in action while I was visiting, I was a the airport and this really great tape of arabic music was playing. I was sitting by two women, all three of us obviously liked it. One of the women told the guy in the store she liked it (apparently), he took it out and gave it to her.

I've never heard of this happening in Japan, but who knows.

Answer 2

No, you don't have to give them presents whenever they ask for them, but it is a tradition to give presents to someone when you have something to gain. For example, you give something to your boss, or take him out to eat, if you want a promotion. My mother often gives my teachers, some money when she wanted me to go to a better class.