Japanese Gifts For Him 2021

If your man is a Japan man, then maybe you need to show your love with something from the rising sun.

We’ve made a list of some of our favorite Japanese gifts for the male in your life. We’ve tried to chunk up the ideas for Japanese presents for women into categories to make it easier. We’ve given a couple of gift examples in each category, with a link to more options for each category.

Hopefully this helps you find a unique Japanese gift for him!

Oh, and we also have a list of Japanese gifts for her here and a more general Japanese gifts page here.

How to Choose A Gift For A Japan Fan

First step is to figure out what category of Japan lover you are buying for. 

There tend to be a few different main types of Japan lover. Here’s how you can roughly divide these groups:

The “Otaku” Japan-Lover

This is the “nerd” Japan-Lover. 

The Otaku tends to be into the anime, manga, and tech sides of things. Some Japanese gift ideas Otaku types include:

My personal favorite is Sushi GO! Card game

The “Zen" Japan-Lover

This Japan fan is characterised by love of Japanese traditional and more refined arts. Steve Jobs loved traditional Japanese design, and it influenced the minimalist design of Apple products.

Gift ideas for the “Zen” Japan-Lover include:

The Modern Japan-Lover

The "Linguist" Japan-Lover

Here is a list of some of my favorite Japanese Language Resources. Maybe your linguist love one would like something from there?

Cool Japan Stuff

Let’s start with the fundamentals. Gift for a man? Socks is number 1 right? BUT, they don’t have to be the same old boring socks. How about a pair of anime socks! Totoro on your ankles anyone?

Or check out any of these Studio Ghibli socks.

Make your own mossball!
Buying a gift for a greenthumb? Or just trying to easily get a little green inside? This Kokedama moss ball kit, makes it super simple to get in on the Japanese moss action!

This is a bento box that cooks your rice fresh. Only in Japan.

Every Japan-lover needs at least one Studio Ghibli poster in their home. Mandatory decoration.

Gifts For Anime Lovers

We’ve put the emphasis on anime gifts that could be given to most Japanese anime lovers.

Japan Coloring Book Gifts

Coloring books for adults have taken off in recent years. See our Japan coloring books page here.

I love this book, it really is as much an art book as a straight out coloring book. It has beautiful full-color images of 22 ukiyo-e woodblock prints. In addition it gives you a full page background on each artwork and artist. So you’re learning about the history of this wonderful Japanese artform, but doing it in an active way where you are recreating the artworks. The coloring pages are actually recreated from the original artworks themselves, so they are incredibly accurate.

The only drawbacks are that they may be too intricate for some, and 22 images is less than some other options.

The only drawbacks are that they may be too intricate for some, and 22 images is less than some other options.

Not so much a “book” as a bumper “pad” of 72 wonderful patterns and images. It’s top bound with glue, so you can easily remove individual sheets. The Vive Le Color coloring book range are tremendously popular, so you know you’re going to get something that is generally good quality. This book is fairly small, which makes it pretty portable. The downside is that this also means that a lot of the designs are small, and can feel a little “cramped”. It’s a trade off really. Still this book has so many fans, it pretty much couldn’t be left out of any Japanese Coloring Book list.

Japanese Home Gifts

japanese Kitchen & Dining Gifts

You eat lunch every day right? So why not eat from a lunch box that gives you pleasure. Food tastes better out of a nice box. Especially a nice, natural wooden box. Mmmm, bento box.

Beautiful blue glaze plate suitable for sushi or piece of fish, with dipping bowls and chopsticks.

For the Sake lovers. Bizen is my favourite school of potter in Japan, it’s rough enough to have character to smooth enough to be pleasurable to use. 

If you do a lot of cutting and cooking, you need a good knife. Japan does great blades. They look stylish too.

If your loved one is a tea swiller, then they need a a good cup. If they like matcha, they’ll also need the whisk and spoon. This gives them everything they need for great tea in one pack.

We’ve alsogot posts about tea whisks and Japanese tea sets

Some people love tea, some people like something a little harder. Japan has some wonderful, quite unusual beer cups, such as this Nousaku tumbler.

Japanese Lamps

There’s no quicker way to transform the feel of the room than with lighting. These Japanese style lights emit a warm, subtle light that can make an otherwise bland space into something magical.

This lamp combines the charm of a traditional style lamp with modern connectivity. The best of both worlds.

If you are thinking of getting a Japanese lamp as present check out our Japanese lamps guide

Japanese Zabuton Cushions

Japanese people love to sit on the floor. Zabuton style cushions aid with that. This one has a beautiful, muted tone design.

These zabuton cushions are well padded and would be particularly well suited to meditation.

For more Japanese Decor ideas see this page 

Japanese Clothing Gifts For Him

Japanese Tops

A simple, understated yet modern linen men’s jacket

For the sophisticated Japanophile.

There’s something a little “Yakuza” about this one.For those that like to make a statement.

Hanten

Wearing a padded hanten is like walking around wearing a blanket. These things transform winter, and look very trad Japanese to boot

Wearing a padded hanten jacket is kind of like wrapping yourself in a quilt. No more dragging your bedding around the house. This one is in a striking “Montsuki” insignia style

The striped Hanten is the classic one for men.

More mighty hanten can be found here.

Jinbei

Jinbei are some of the most free flowing garments you can wear. They are made to circulate air and keep you comfortable in a range of situations, most notably after bathing or as sleep wear that can also be worn outside.

Foxtume have some great Jinbei including this one with full dragon design on the back.

The Seigaha pattern is classic in Japanese design and clothing. This Jinbei pulls it off beautifully.

More jinbei can be found here.

Kimono for men

Who said Kimono are just for women. Not the Japanese that’s for sure. This one is a modern take on an ancient garment.

This Kimono is closer to what we associate with feminine Kimono, but recontextualized for the male form.

More male Kimono can be found here.

Naruto Tops

I gave one of these Naruto hoodies to my 12 year old son, and absolutely loved it. Their great quality.

Another favorite Naruto hoodie.

More Naruto Hoodies can be found here.

Japanese Shoes

Does your special someone like the film Princess Mononoke? Now she can go a little wild, with a Mononoke style necklace!

Sometimes you can express your fandom with a hoodie or a t-shirt. Sometimes you need to become your heroes. This Totoro onsie can help with tha.

More Japanese shoes can be found here.

Japanese Masks

The Japanese street clothing label BAPE has swept the world. Almost like a virus. So it makes sense that they have masks too. This is one is trad-pink for the ladies.

This mask has the distinctive BAPE mouth design.

More Bape Masks can be found here.

Japanese Fashion Books

If you want to pursue kawaii cute, you’re going to need some resource materials right?

Is the special someone in your life Goth, Gyaru, Lolita, Akamonji-kei, or Aomoji-kei. This book should help everyone figure that out.

Japanese Cosplay Gifts

Ready to move beyond Japanese everyday wear? If you have an Anime Otaku in your life, then some of these should be of interest.

This Howl jacket screams “serious cosplayer”.

Howl from Studio Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle film was pretty stylish and not against making a statement with his jacket. Now your special someone can too!

Does your special someone like the film Princess Mononoke? Now she can go a little wild, with a Mononoke style necklace!

Sometimes you can express your fandom with a hoodie or a t-shirt. Sometimes you need to become your heroes. This Totoro onsie can help with tha.

See our Cosplay gallery here.

Midnight Diner Merch

If you or a loved one are a fan of the show Midnight Diner 

For fans of the, now on Netflix, Japanese TV series Midnight diner. This shirt has “Meshiya” written on it, meaning “restaurant” and is the same as the sign at the front of the shop in the show.

Zeigo Tsunekichi Suzuki Album

This is the album the Midnight Diner opening theme song was originally released on. It is sold on the Japanese Amazon and can be sent to most places worldwide.

Midnight Diner Wall Art.
Find more Japanese wall art here

Gifts for Sushi Lovers!

Let’s face it, making well shaped sushi is a pain in the rice ball. This kit takes the pain away. 

These ye-olde sushi tubs bring a rustic feel to the whole sushi making process. Fill it with everything else you need, and it’s the perfect gift for sushi fans.

Let’s face it, making well shaped sushi is a pain in the rice ball. This kit takes the pain away. 

These ye-olde sushi tubs bring a rustic feel to the whole sushi making process. Fill it with everything else you need, and it’s the perfect gift for sushi fans.

Let’s face it, making well shaped sushi is a pain in the rice ball. This kit takes the pain away. 

These ye-olde sushi tubs bring a rustic feel to the whole sushi making process. Fill it with everything else you need, and it’s the perfect gift for sushi fans.

For more gifts for Sushi lovers check out this page

Japanese Language Gifts

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The famous Pimsleur program is one I’ve used a lot and found very helpful. If you want to get something for your Japanese learning male friend, this one’s solid.

Another way, potentially cheaper than an online membership, to do the Pimsleur Japanese course is to buy the lessons on CD. This one also looks better in wrapping paper…

Check out our full Pimsleur Japanese review here or our list of Japanese language resources here.

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Who is behind this site?

I’m Peter Joseph Head. I lived in Japan for four years as a student at Kyoto City University of the Arts doing a Masters Degree, have toured the country six times playing music and speak Japanese (JLPT N1). I’ve written songs in Japanese and have released several albums through Tokyo label Majikick Records.

ピータージョセフヘッドです。4年間京都市立芸大の大学院として日本に住み、６回日本で音楽ツアーをし、日本語能力試験で１級を取得しました。要するに日本好きです。

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