Which Souvenir from Japan?

[MexicanDragon]

Quick question...maybe.

I have a buddy that just went to Japan for a 5 month academic program. He is very willing to buy goodies and send/bring them back over. I was just wanting to know if there are any really good deals or exclusive products that can be had in Japan that we can't get in the US, or if its just a lot cheaper, that's fine too. I'll be on the lookout for the next few months, but if something comes out soon, or there's something I just can't pass up...well...I can't pass it up. Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

**BRENT**

 

[MartinJ]

I have been in Japan twice, the biggest souvenir you can get are the memories : P

Well he can buy some kind of small japanese porslin, or a japanese painting, or something cool of some Japanese furniture market.

Ofcourse he can maybe buy some new cool electronics if you are interested in that.

 

[leon]

Hmm, only you know how desirable something is to you. Be more specific.

Why I say this:
- Some things might be very popular among the Japanese, but Westerners will find the rush is absolutely absurd.
- A lot of things will be 50, 100 bucks cheaper in Japan (Clies and Zauruses), but you'll need to speak Japanese to use them. The possibility of language conversion might be zilch.
- These days the product availability gap between Japan and elsewhere is closing in. It's hard to find things so flashy you have to buy them on the spot in Japan.
- There will be no devastatingly good deals.
- The things you can't mail might be the most impressive (I'm an ANA junkie).

However, if I went to Japan right now, I'd check out:
- [ur=http://www.audio-technica.co.jp/atj/sc/ath-ec7/img/wallpaper/800x600_ec7_wo.jpg]Audio-Technica EC7[/url]. These are only available in Japan right now, and will be cheaper than if you buy online.
- Hi-MD portables. How about the playback-only Sony EH1?
- iRiver N10. Only God knows when it's going to come out in the US and everywhere, if you got to have it now you can try Japan. And yes, you can use your own phones with this.
- Unrelated to this forum, but digital cameras: fresher, possibly cheaper and language issues are unlikely.
(- Qualia EXQ1: Will be cheaper, but I think Sony's out of stock and won't have them till later. Every new lot sells out at SonyStyle Japan in the first 10 minutes or so)

I'm not Japanese so hopefully our resident Japanese studs will chime in for a bit

 

[stevesurf]

Great opportunity!

Food to bring back:
Instant packets of UDon (noodles)

Souveniers:
Those little Japanese Cats (the tiny statues)
Fans (women love 'em)

DVD:
The best Japanese Anime (just remember buy region code "all")

Audio stuff (get at Bic Camera):
Sony MD-EX71 White
Replacement Gray Ear Cups
Replacement Sony Remotes
Funky iPOD cases
Multicolored CD-R and MDs

Digital Photography:
In January, the Nikon D2X Digital SLR camera (you wont see it here for months)

 

[MexicanDragon]

Thanks for the replies so far, but I think I was mainly looking for audio stuff. I haven't really been keepking up with what comes out where, and when, but was thinking there might be some gear come out earlier over there. Well...maybe something will pop up.

**BRENT**

 

[MikoLayer]

buy a whole bunch of gashaphons, plush dolls, posters, figures, used cds and whatnot and mail them all to me

i will be your best friend for life

 

[PYROTAK]

a900 for 163 in tokyo!

 

[RooX]

its not audio, but if you are into cooking, check out shinichi watanabe at watanabe blades. HIs family has bee nmaking cooking knives for 8 generations and they can custom make most any japanese chinese and western knife. He uses amazing steels and hand makes each knife to your requirments. Very friendly, and he's very good at english as well. If your in his neigborhood, im sure you could even get a tour of his shop.

http://www.watanabeblade.com/english/

cheers,
Colin

 

[CamelBackCinema]

GET FULL BODY PANDA SUITS! for the love of God please... get a panda suit.

And sumo underwear... new i mean

 

[bLue_oNioN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by leon (- Qualia EXQ1: Will be cheaper, but I think Sony's out of stock and won't have them till later. Every new lot sells out at SonyStyle Japan in the first 10 minutes or so)

How ARE those things anyway?

 

[Yukster]

For audio stuff, if you are into MDs, the latest MD players and recorders. Examples are the Sony E730, which has the HD Digital Amp and Type S encoding, which will be coming out in October of this year. Also any unique/cool looking MD blanks. Also, anything Audio Technica. They will be much cheaper than buying them online. On my most recent trip, I bought myself a ATH-CM7 earphone, and if you don't have one already, the A900 are always a good buy.

Also audio CDs are something that you might want to think about. If JPOP is not your cup of tea, then a lot of the Japanese releases of US bands have extra tracks on them, and sometimes, they have "Japan Only" releases. Something you might want to look up on the Internet.

 

[bLue_oNioN]

How about one of them nipple scarves?

.. just kidding.

Hope I did not offend anybody!

 

[callanish]

you can't go wrong with nipple scarves and a panda suit!

 

[Flasken]

Man that's easy.... Have him get the new sony clie with full OLED screen!!

http://www.clieclub.jp/review/rev_vz90/index.html

 

[Kirosia]

Bring me Doraemon's head. (Read the sig)