A Gift For Sensei

**Legio** · 13th August 2004, 03:24 AM

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** · 13th August 2004, 03:39 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

mrkam · 13th August 2004, 04:02 AM

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

**Neil Gendzwill** · 13th August 2004, 04:05 AM

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** · 13th August 2004, 04:09 AM

Originally Posted by Neil Gendzwill

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....

**hyuna** · 13th August 2004, 04:18 AM

Originally Posted by DCPan

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** · 13th August 2004, 04:50 AM

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

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

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

**Charlie** · 13th August 2004, 04:54 AM

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** · 13th August 2004, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by Legio

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** · 13th August 2004, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by DCPan

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.

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** · 13th August 2004, 07:01 AM

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** · 13th August 2004, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by 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** · 13th August 2004, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

OOOH, san miguel is good but Mauhau is best!

**gsx1100s** · 13th August 2004, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by DCPan

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.

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** · 13th August 2004, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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.