I will never look at a good quality, crisp and “fresh” paper bag again after living in Japan.
A paper bag is the ultimate wrapping paper for a gift (or even for returning an item that you borrowed.) It’s not only considered to be polite but it is also just an unspoken way of showing that you have your life together.
A paper bag is then reused by the receiver in the same way.
While walking around major cities in Japan, it is common to see (mostly woman but sometimes men) carrying around paper bags while they commute. They may be a Chanel paper bag or a certain brand. That doesn’t necessarily mean they have just been high end shopping. That bag probably just holds their lunch box.
A lovely paper bag is about status.. in Japan, it can be the sign of an organized life but also shows that you value the contents inside.
Must like the fashion in Japan everything is very deliberate (and then you had me as an exchange student in Japanese high school just shoving everything into my school bag all scrunched up – a jacket, a lunchbox – all smooshed together.)
My kids make fun of me now as I can never part with a good Tokyo Disneyland bag now.
Even when I worked at the Japanese hotel, we always returned lost property to guests in a hotel branded paper bag.
Bonus points when handing over a gift in a paper bag – use two hands.
See here for my suggestions for gifts to buy friends and colleagues in Japan.
