The Japanese have a tradition of omiyage, little gifts that you bring back from vacation and give to your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. A large number of people. According to Wikipedia, “Japanese are often very close-lipped about their travel plans, hoping to minimize their omiyage responsibilities.” That is one solution, here is another:
Choosing omiyage is so difficult and takes time out of sightseeing! It makes the luggage so heavy, when it was already heavy to begin with! You are so tired and beaten down when you return home! Just leisurely choose omiyage from this catalog, go on your trip, and we’ll deliver it to your door when you return home to Japan!
And wrapping matters:
When presenting omiyage remember that the wrapping is VERY IMPORTANT. Put your omiyage in the suitcase or bag that will be sent directly to Morioka from Narita Airport and you can wrap your gifts here to avoid the “well traveled” look.
Like Christmas presents, omiyage (especially the wrapping) is something neither the giver nor the recipient would otherwise buy. Gift traditions increase the market for high-end finely-made things. The genes that pushed us toward these traditions evolved because they helped artists and artisans — the first material scientists — make a living.