One of the interesting things about Japan is that they have a custom called "the return gift." Anytime anyone gets you anything as a gift, you are required to return the favor by getting them a gift. This goes for things like birthdays, weddings, etc.
For example, my landlady was saying a nice serving bowl she has was a return gift for a wedding. My landlady and her husband got the couple a wedding gift and the couple gave the serving bowl as a return gift to all guests who got them presents.
This is why you want to be careful when giving gifts in Japan. The return gift is usually equal to the value of your gift. Many times a gift might be simply fresh fruit so that a return gift can be bread from a local bakery.
Our lady andy brought us over coffee cake, juice and rice crackers so I took her a small thing of chocolate covered pecans from Godiva.
Interesting concept and we don't really have such a custom in the US.
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