Cell Phone Diary 3 (Tangent)

携帯日記、７月１０日（水） 7/10/13

日光(にっこう)に行った時に、お店で色々なおみやげを見た。でも、見たおみやげはだいたい他(ほか)の県(けん)や観光(かんこう)地(ち)にもあるおみやげだった。例(たと)えば、ホームステイのお母さんは、日光(にっこう)のゆばが有名(ゆうめい)だけど、京都のゆばもとても有名(ゆうめい)だと言っていた。それから、成(なり)田(た)山(さん)の餡子(あんこ)も有名(ゆうめい)だけど、他(ほか)にも日本の色々な所でも作られていると言っていた。日本人は、旅行した後でおみやげを友達によくあげるだけじゃなくて、お正月(しょうがつ)にも「お中元(ちゅうげん)」という贈(おく)り物(もの)も上(あ)げる。ホームステイ•ファミリーはお中元(ちゅうげん)にお菓子(かし)をたくさんもらうそうだ。カルピスという飲み物も人気(にんき)なおみやげの一つだそうだ。日本では、たいてい毎年どのぐらいのお金をおみやげや、お中元(ちゅうげん)に使っているのだろうか。

Cellphone Diary by Tangent Cheng 7/10/13

When we went to Nikko, I saw many different types of souvenirs, but the souvenirs that I saw were also generally sold in other prefectures or sightseeing locations. For example, my homestay mother said that Yuba (tofu skin) in Nikko is famous, but it's also really famous in Kyoto. She then said that the anko (red bean paste) from Narita Mountain is also famous, but it's made in various other places in Japan as well. Japanese people do not only give souvenirs to their friends after they come back from a trip, but on New Years, they also give gifts called "ochuuden." My homestay family said that they receive a lot of sweets and snacks as gifts. There is a drink called Calpis that is also apparently a popular gift. I wonder how much money is spent on gifts and souvenirs in Japan each year...