A Gift For Sensei

[Legio]

Hello everyone,

I am moving to another dojo next month and I want to give a present to my senseis (3 of them). I want to show them my appreciation for their dedication in teaching me Kendo. I feel like I owe them a lot since they taught me from the beginning. I was just wondering what would be an appropriate gift to give them.
I don't know if I should give them kendo-related items since they are all high ranking and have VERY good jobs so I think they pretty much have everything kendo. I want this to be a surprise so I can't really ask them what they want. I hope they don't visit these forums... LOL (for those in my club... please don't say anything). In Japan, what would you give your sensei? Please keep in mind that I am a student and I really don't have a lot of money to shell out. Thank you for your input.

[DCPan]

Hello everyone,

I am moving to another dojo next month and I want to give a present to my senseis (3 of them). I want to show them my appreciation for their dedication in teaching me Kendo. I feel like I owe them a lot since they taught me from the beginning. I was just wondering what would be an appropriate gift to give them.
I don't know if I should give them kendo-related items since they are all high ranking and have VERY good jobs so I think they pretty much have everything kendo. I want this to be a surprise so I can't really ask them what they want. I hope they don't visit these forums... LOL (for those in my club... please don't say anything). In Japan, what would you give your sensei? Please keep in mind that I am a student and I really don't have a lot of money to shell out. Thank you for your input.

Well,

Training stuff aside, I would recommend NOT giving a sharp object.

I was told at some point in time that giving of a present such as a knife can be interpreted as a "severing of ties" which is not a good thing.

Of course, not all folks interpret things that way, but I thought that's a stigma that I might bring up, just in case.

:rolleyes:

[mrkam]

Scotch, scotch or scotch would all make good gifts.....

[Neil Gendzwill]

If you want to give a kendo-related gift, a high quality shinai is always appreciated as those are consumables. As has been pointed out, a good single malt hardly ever goes astray with kendo sensei. But if you want your gift to be personal there's not much we can help you with, it will have to be your own idea.

[DCPan]

But if you want your gift to be personal there's not much we can help you with, it will have to be your own idea.

If you have very spiffy hand-writing, you could always give a personalized shinai by writing their name on it.

Alternatively, I've done stuff like stamping sensei's name on the tsuka and etc.

Honestly, I'm surprised that boguya don't offer tsuka monogramming for the high-end gingawa tsukagawa....

:rolleyes:

[hyuna]

Training stuff aside, I would recommend NOT giving a sharp object.

This is a reasonable point, but there are a lot of other superstitions and gift-giving etiquette depending on where the sensei are from... Some research may be warranted.

[Curtis]

Here are a couple web sites about gift giving and superstitions.

http://www.getcustoms.com/2004GTC/Articles/iw0798.html (http://www.getcustoms.com/2004GTC/Articles/iw0798.html)


http://www.lilesnet.com/trivia/super1.htm

[Charlie]

Someone said scotch, right?

Hahaha. Would it be enough just to buy them beers after your last practice?

This is kinda girly, but what about stationary?

Photo albums are also good.

T-shirts from America if they dig that, or baseball caps from your home town. I.e., get someone to send you three Toronto Bluejays caps.

[litige]

Hello everyone,

I am moving to another dojo next...

Go see the new Hosen line at www.eguchi.net

It may be really really expensive, but it's really beautifull and can give you some great Ideas. Also try some handmade things, made by you. Plus a scotch.

[Nanbanjin]

Well,

Training stuff aside, I would recommend NOT giving a sharp object.

I was told at some point in time that giving of a present such as a knife can be interpreted as a "severing of ties" which is not a good thing.

Of course, not all folks interpret things that way, but I thought that's a stigma that I might bring up, just in case.

:rolleyes:
I think that superstition holds in Japan as well as in the west.
You can get around it by accepting a small amount of money from the person you are buying it from. Least that's what my mum said.

[Legio]

Thanks for all the input everyone... maybe ALCOHOL is the way to go... hehe (as most seem to have suggested this). I'll see if I can import this rum called Tanduay from Philippines (my native country). The rum is supposedly famous in Europe (dunno why we can't really get it here in North America)... San Miguel beer maybe another option.

[Nanbanjin]

I think that superstition holds in Japan as well as in the west.
You can get around it by accepting a small amount of money from the person you are buying it from. Least that's what my mum said.
Sorry, I meant accepting a small amount of money from the person you are giving it to.

[Mikeyprime]

Thanks for all the input everyone... maybe ALCOHOL is the way to go... hehe (as most seem to have suggested this). I'll see if I can import this rum called Tanduay from Philippines (my native country). The rum is supposedly famous in Europe (dunno why we can't really get it here in North America)... San Miguel beer maybe another option.

OOOH, san miguel is good but Mauhau is best!

[gsx1100s]

Well,

Training stuff aside, I would recommend NOT giving a sharp object.

I was told at some point in time that giving of a present such as a knife can be interpreted as a "severing of ties" which is not a good thing.

Of course, not all folks interpret things that way, but I thought that's a stigma that I might bring up, just in case.

:rolleyes:

If you give a knife to someone as a present make sure you also have a coin taped to the blade. It's a strange tradition but it's meant to be good luck. Giving a blade without the money is bad luck....why I have no idea lol

[tapioka]

Thanks for all the input everyone... maybe ALCOHOL is the way to go... hehe (as most seem to have suggested this). I'll see if I can import this rum called Tanduay from Philippines (my native country). The rum is supposedly famous in Europe (dunno why we can't really get it here in North America)... San Miguel beer maybe another option.
if your senseis appreciate the japanese culture deeply, maybe they'd appreciate some sake. ;) I'm too young to drink, so I have no idea, but I hear that a GOOD bottle of japanese sake makes a really nice gift.

[Bodaishin]

Thanks for all the input everyone... from Philippines (my native country).
your name is of a herb is it?

well, concerning my own view; if I - as a Hungarian - were to give a present to a Japanese for any reason; I would choose someting that a Hungarian would tradiitonally give to one's father, teacher or a highly respected fellow of the same/opposite gender.

I would not try to give someting Japanese to a Japanese; aécohol is good, but somehow more internatinal one (showing that you i) have either no pernosal idea ii) that the relationship itslef does not require/allow a more peronsal present tp be given)...

give something Philippine... and if the meaning/custom is not obvious (very likely) give it to them with a short explatantion.

OTOH Neil is right: with a good shinai; you cannot go wrong

[Paburo]

my dojo and dojos in spain are always welcoming sensei from outside. and always we gather up money to address them with some gifts. but most of the time its a different type of gift! why? becase we do some 'investigation' about that sensei personal interest and give them something according to it.

for instance, xxxxx sensei collects coins, then we gave them a full collection of all the different euro coins from every country.

xxxxxx sensei likes swords, so we gave him a fine spanish toledo sword. xxxxx sensei likes soccer, so we give him real madrid goodies, etc. you get the idea.

my advise is, do some investigation and give them something according to their interest.

[KingCanute]

there was a thread about making hardened leather tsuba in the forum the other day. gifts are always far more personal and usually more appreciated if they are made by whoever is giving them. If you have enough time make something because it shows thought and an investment of time and effort rather than just money.

[frederico]

ok i have to do a little spam here :D
http://www.cafeshops.com/kendoshape
http://www.cafeshops.com/kendophoto

well but i think the most important is what was said, that you give him something that he can relate to, and that you know better than we what could be(and i dunno if the stuff in that shops are the most apropriated to give to a sensei:!).

alchool usually works becouse even if he doesnt like it.. theres always friends coming home, partys etc.. or maybe the next day the class will be a little happier and uncoordinated!

[Curtis]

xxxxxx sensei likes swords, so we gave him a fine spanish toledo sword.
Toledo swords!!! Dang I want to come to your dojo. Take me shopping!

[Twobitmage]

Give them something personal, even if it is kendo.

In your last few days of practice, take notice of say...that their sunglasses are cracked, or their favorite bogu bag is ripped. Maybe one of them has really old wristbands/leg wraps and needs new ones but never got some

[Paburo]

Toledo swords!!! Dang I want to come to your dojo. Take me shopping!

come anytime! here visitors are most welcome in the warmest way possible :D

aaah, and toledo is just 40 minutes away from madrid.

[fitzj]

One of the women at the dojo I train at is a very talented sculptor and she can make a figure of your sensei (from a picture). I've seen a few she has made already and they are very like the person (she even manages to capture a certain amount of their attitude).

I will be leaving my dojo next year and have already been in touch with her regarding doing something for me.

[Legio]

One of the women at the dojo I train at is a very talented sculptor and she can make a figure of your sensei (from a picture). I've seen a few she has made already and they are very like the person (she even manages to capture a certain amount of their attitude).

I will be leaving my dojo next year and have already been in touch with her regarding doing something for me.
WOW!!! That would indeed make a great gift... it will be difficult to provide the photo though (I'd have to sneak around to take pictures and that doesn't seem right...LOL) and if she agrees to do it, the time it would take not to mention the shipping would be a mess. I am moving in less than a month and I'll be in university... I won't really have the time for anything else... I can't have too much things to worry about. Thank you for the offer... if only there was more time.

[GrandCentral9]

What about some type of Kendo gear? A nifty tenugui or tsuba? Are these the types of things that you'd want to choose yourself, or would they be appropriate as gifts?

[litige]

Just to chill in, If you want idea or have some idea for gifts and everything, go see the thread gifts for sensei in the lounge.
Thanks

[Kenshin Axel]

I think the best gift is a thank you.
Theres no need to go and spend heaps of money or buy something extravagant.
When I left my Ju Jitsu club after being there for ages, I just gave my sensei a hug, only cause she was pretty though, if I hugged the head sensei I probaly would get lost in his armpit.