Japanese gifts under $50

A small gift is often the hardest kind to choose: something useful, a little special, and easy to wrap. These are the pieces we reach for, all made in Japan and all under $50. Many come in their own gift box.

For someone who loves tea

The Matcha Latte Cup with Grinder comes boxed, in three soft colours. For sake rather than tea, the Ridged White Sake Set is a pourer and two small cups in white porcelain, in its own box. The Mt. Fuji Sake Set for One pairs a small bottle with a cup shaped like the mountain.

For someone who loves cats

The Three Cats Dessert Plate has a calico, a tuxedo and a tabby sitting side by side, and each plate comes in its own yellow box. The Three Cats Mini Dessert Bowls are six little bowls for cookies, berries or a dip of soy sauce, boxed together.

For a new home, or a new baby

A pair of rice bowls is a classic Japanese gift for a new home: the swallow rice bowls come boxed as two, and the Mt. Fuji Bowl Pair is one green mountain and one red. For a small child, the Little Panda Kids’ Dinnerware Set is a mug, two bowls and a plate, boxed together, and the Little Bird Bowl Set is three bird-shaped bowls, made a little deep so less ends up on the table.

Something small

The Balloon Flower Plate is a 16 cm plate painted with a blue flower, in its own box. And a pair of kitchen cloths woven from Nara mosquito-net fabric is the kind of gift people use every day.

You will find more in Small Gifts and Gifts, where everything can be browsed by price.