Omiyage shopping culture: when quality meets sustainability

Japanese souvenirs are an important part of the culture. However, the word “omiyage” has a slightly different nuance in Japanese than the English word souvenir. English speakers typically think of souvenirs as something that we buy for ourselves, usually as mementos of our travels, though of course we buy them for other people as well.

In Japanese, however, omiyage mainly refer to gifts that you buy for others, including family and coworkers. People who have worked in Japanese offices are likely familiar with the practice of buying omiyage after taking time off to travel, almost as an apology for the inconvenience caused.

Omiyage are also important regional products that can help contribute to local economies. Many Japanese cities and prefectures have their own special souvenirs and goods associated with the area. While omiyage have many good points for both the economy and consumers, they often have the same excess packaging that other Japanese products have. Many food products sold as souvenirs are individually wrapped in plastic, for example.

Quality omiyage that still meet sustainable standards

Thankfully, some Japanese companies do sell omiyage that are both appealing and sustainable. Daibutsu Purin is one local business which uses packaging that strikes a balance between eco-friendliness and aesthetics. The Nara-based company uses mainly local ingredients including high-quality cream for its pudding. Gift boxes for their pudding jars are made with inexpensive and environmentally friendly materials. Paper bags used for takeout are also made with craft paper which has minimal printing, without sacrificing design.

Kanazawa Pickles is another local store that makes its products with the environment in mind. They make their pickles with all-natural materials and no added preservatives, and use vegetables with imperfect appearances that stores may not sell. This is their way of supporting the idea of mottainai, or not wasting food and materials unnecessarily. The pickles are made to be stored for an especially long time. The company also makes efforts to recycle the jars the pickles are sold in.

Besides food souvenirs, there are other omiyage that can be made in a sustainable way. Hand fans are popular for both foreign and Japanese tourists. However many fans sold at souvenir shops are constructed with plastics and synthetic cloths. The Kiri Design Store aims to sell a higher quality, sustainable alternative. The company sells a line of hand fans called coromo. These fans use specially made cloth from Hyogo prefecture. Cloth that would otherwise be unused or disposed of is used in coromo fans.

Help the environment and local economies while taking the memory with you

We often imagine that we have to sacrifice quality and convenience in order to achieve more sustainable practices, especially with the products we purchase. While it may be true that sustainability can sometimes mean rethinking our lifestyles, we can still have enjoyable and appealing products that are better for the environment.

Omiyage can be a great example of this. The eco-friendly practices used by these companies can also be an appealing selling point for consumers. Their omiyage are made with higher quality materials which are often sourced locally. This means purchasing them is a great way to support both sustainability and local economies. These souvenirs show us we do not necessarily have to give up quality and convenience to make better choices for the environment.