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How much do Japanese girls expect their boyfriends to spend on Christmas presents?

33 Comments
By Audrey Akcasu

Christmas Eve in Japan is very much a date night, perhaps the biggest of the year. Couples go to see festive Christmas lights, have a nice dinner and exchange gifts; the night really matters. But about those gifts…

How much money are you planning on spending on your significant other this holiday season? How much are you expecting them to spend on you? If you’re single, how much do you think your potential darling would want to dish out for a Christmas present? A recent poll gives us a great insight into how much we should probably be spending.

According to a study done by MatchAlarm, makers of a matchmaking app of the same name, of the 536 unmarried women surveyed, 48.9% do not expect their significant others (or potential ones) to spend more than 10,000 yen. That’s good news, right guys? Some of these gals cite “the feeling” behind the gift as more important that actual item. The bad news for those of you on a budget is that 42.6% expect their loved one to cause some serious damage to their wallets with gifts between 10-30,000 yen. They more or less think, “If they have the money, they’d better spend it.”

Thankfully for Japanese men, there are fewer girls expecting gifts over 30,000 yen.

Here’s the complete breakdown of the results of how much Japanese girls expect their partners to spend on them:

5,000 yen or less: 11.8% 5,000-10,000 yen: 37.1% 10-30,000 yen: 42.6% 30-50,000 yen: 6.7% Over 50,000 yen: 1.9%

Personally, I can’t even fathom my significant other spending more than 10,000 yen, let alone me spending that on them. Which raises another question: Do these girls plan on spending the same amount on the boys?

Are you a “feeling” kind of person, or do you like the expensive stuff? Let us know what you’ll be spending, if anything, on the object of your affections this Christmas.

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Beautiful Japanese Christmas Confectioneries if You’re Tired of Regular Christmas Cake -- Rodin’s “The Thinker” goes thoughtless in Japan -- You’re not seeing things, that’s a cat selling roasted sweet potatoes

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33 Comments
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When I first came to Japan in the early 90's the guy was expected to take his girlfriend to an expensive restaurant on Christmas Eve, whereupon he would give her a present (usually some kind of jewellery ) and then cap the evening off by staying in an expensive hotel. The jewellery alone was often more than 50,000 yen (Tiffany didn't come cheap). In return, his girlfriend would knit him a scarf or sweater as an expression of her love for him. Exchanging gifts is not about getting an equal return from your significant other but I couldn't "fathom" why some guys went to such great lengths. Thankfully, girls nowadays seem to have lowered their expectations.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Personally, I can’t even fathom my significant other spending more than 10,000 yen, let alone me spending that on them.

When I was in Japan I dated a Filpino gal, who subsequently became my fiance, so we celebrated Christmas in a mix of Japanese and traditional Christian manner. In any case, I can't remember what I spent the first couple of years we were dating, but after things got serious, say around year 3, I never spent less than JPY 50,000 on gifts. Now the good news on that is I usually bought her presents on-line from U.S. stores, or on business trips to the states, so I got great value for my money. But, as the article says, it is not the price of the presents, but the emotion behind it, and I was always excited and happy to give her things that reflected that. What's the point of working so hard if you can't splurge a little on Christmas gifts for your woman?

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Most women will not give a man a straight answer. For me it's not what a man spends, but how creative he gets with the gift. Getting creative during Christmas is special and important than the amount he spends on me because if he makes me feel like a little kid around Christmas time, it's going to allow me to enjoy the holidays so much more. So it's not about getting another piece of great jewelry or designer handbag, it's about getting something memorable or something I always wanted for myself but would never actually buy it myself. That's a great gift. It's not how much he spent's. It's about how he creates that moment.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Why are these questions always 'How much will the man spend on gifts for her?', 'What restaurant will he treat her to', blah blah blah. No wonder fewer Japanese men want to enter in a relationship with Japanese women. What will SHE buy for him?

3 ( +7 / -4 )

If chivalry is truly dead then reciprocity needs to come alive.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Honestly, I typically spend about 30,000 total for everything Christmas related on the wife. Some years it is more and some less, but almost always I am very practical to get her things she needs but won't buy for herself (or, after we got married, she can't justify spending house-savings on)

So, yeah, fun stuff for her is usually about 10,000 (Sweater, jewelry, something fluff), but the brunt is usually something like that bicycle she really wanted, or that nice sewing machine. Again, things she wants and can use.

Pre marriage, I was never home for Christmas and told her that up front..but she always got a nice (and impossible to price check) gift from the states.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

As much as he can. And expect no reciprocation.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

My gf's birthday is mid December, so I just lump them both together for a decent price range

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Ask the reverse question! If the girls want 30,000 yen spent on them they should expect to spend the same amount in return..

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@dcog

Is she happy with that?

I know a couple of people who definitely wouldn't be... ; )

0 ( +2 / -2 )

This is going to sound sappy, but I just want her to feel special and appreciated. I don't really care how much I spend. I hope she understands that.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@lucabrasi: Well the dates are so close so I think she doesn't mind.. But because of this the present I get for her birthday has to be pretty decent (pricey); this year I got her a PS4 + a game - before you say it's more for me than her she did say she really wanted one for the past few months

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I'm not allowed to buy anything extravagant. I once surprised my partner with an expensive bottle of perfume and was asked why I didn't buy dangly earrings, a fur coat and a Vuitton bag to go with it seeing as I obviously thought she worked at a knocking shop. Bah humbug.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

My wife has always made it clear she does not want a present. Just money.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I normally spend about 100,000 yen on a present for the wife and she gives me certain tickets that i can cash in any time I want. Its very fun and exciting...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Awesome! I'm in the majority! I bought my GF a watch worth ¥20,000. Perfect! However, I only paid ¥5,000 for it on a super discount, but there's no need to tell her that. :D

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I couldn't care less if I get something cheap, or expensive, or nothing at all, but hopefully my partner does SOMETHING or gives me something that I like. One of the better gifts I got once was a Starbucks mug from a shop in the UAE, where the tumblers are rare. It broke pretty quickly, and I didn't use it terribly much compared to other gifts I've gotten, but the point was that she thought of me, knew I liked coffee and had a couple of Starbucks cups, etc. etc.

Back to the expectations of single women, I would HOPE that theirs are along the same line -- ie. something from the heart. I've made it a habit to give the person I'm with something original, and something bought, every year (although the things bought have been quite cheap of late). I put FAR more time into the former. I've dated women who love the former, and those who give it little thought and expect the latter, and those who cherish both. I don't do it to be praised or for recognition, so I don't care if they fawn all over me for the gifts, but I am happy if they are happy, and of course I want them to like what they are given.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I don't understand why people should exchange gifts on definite occasions like Christmas. I wouldn't expect anything from my "significant other" rather than something sweet like chocolate and only if he wants to. Or it would be nice to receive for an anniversary something representing our bond, like a special bracelet (even 100 yen, it doesn't really matter the price..actually if it was expensive I would feel bad, cause it'd be a waste of money). I really don't understand how people can be so superficial to expect a certain amount of money to be spent on them. Wow, your relationships must be very deep and profound...based on how much your partner will spend for you. Love is shown and conveyed through other channels. No need no money.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

My ex hates Christmas so when it came around I would get her something practical and she liked that. I still send her a card and a small gift though... still good friends.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Still seems to be just socks and undies each year for me. Very romantic stuff.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

....30k yen?? Are you guys made of gold or what? .......... a dinner for two at my house is enough, romantic and personal is what I like :)

1 ( +2 / -1 )

“If they have the money, they’d better spend it."

Man am I glad my wife never talked like that. I would have run fast from any girlfriend with such an attitude.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

In our place, we have this opposite thing going on. I know this is about girlfriends, but here's what happens with my wife-- she practically begs me NOT to buy her anything. She seriously doesn't want anything and she's loathe to spend money on anything she considers an extravagance. Which is anything that isn't a bare necessity for living, apparently. We joke about it all the time. Her idea of a special holiday event is just the two of us enjoying a nice meal together at home and maybe some hot cocoa or green tea afterwards. So for gift-giving occasions like Christmas or birthdays, I try to get her something she will use and enjoy and isn't so expensive. I cheat a little because there's a level where I feel like a cheap, thoughtless creep, though.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I guess I've always been a little too "old-fashioned"... I was brought up to believe that it's the thought that counts and I still think so. (Some of my previous bfs received hand-made gifts that cost a lot more time than money). I would be very happy just to receive a small gift - even from a "100 yen" shop !

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Nonsense!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

YEEEEEEEES!!! Thank you for this survey now I can date my crush without fear of bankruptcy!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Spend as much as you want on your girl. I've always been good at budgeting and can get almost anything I want (under $20,000) but with a lot of patience. Manage your money as a tool instead of spending it like a fool. All the items I invested into giving as a present to my special lady she's always appreciated and reciprocated with her emotional response. All everyone really wants is love, and buying certain things that you know he/she will like and make use of can show how much you love them and vice versa.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

30,000 yen and more + dinner + hotel + flowers, wow sound like gold diggers to me! should it not be all about the thought and careening behind the gift?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

How much do Japanese girls expect their boyfriends to spend on Christmas presents?

Obviously they don't know the phrase "it's the thought that counts"

0 ( +1 / -1 )

No wonder fewer Japanese men want to enter in a relationship with Japanese women. What will SHE buy for him?

She will give him physical contact. This is not just in Japan but in every country pretty much.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Over 50,000 yen: 1.9%"

So one out of 50 girls expects a present that cost over 50,000 yen. Hee hee!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hmm so japanes are not interested in romancing, marry and not interesting in dating. J

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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