Apology presents.

One aspect of Japanese culture (of about 1000) that is extremely hard to understand is the endless rounds of gift-giving required for almost any situation. Move in to a new apartment? Gifts must be given to your floor plus the apartment directly above or below you. Having some yard work or house work done? Gifts to the neighbor on either side, the neighbor across the street, and make sure the construction workers get tea and snacks. Invited to a wedding? Cash in the proper denominations and new bills only! Go on a vacation? Gifts that represent the place you vacationed at to almost everyone you know. You get the picture. Our neighbor once came to our door with a box of beautifully wrapped cookies because the previous Saturday night he had come home a bit tipsy and tried to open our apartment door instead of his own! Apparently, drunken idiocy requires gift-giving too!

Ja ne.