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As the end of the year approaches, many foreigners living in Japan are heading back to their home countries for the holidays. Of course, seeing family and friends for the first time in a while is the best part of going home. But many people also have fun stocking up on all the familiar products that are hard to find in Japan. Check out the results from a survey on Japanese website, Madam Riri, asking foreigners to reveal the items they like to buy in their home countries and bring back to Japan.

Luckily, Japanese stores sell pretty much anything you could need for daily life. Stores like Yamaya also carry a fairly large selection of import food products and Japanese convenience stores are actually, well, extremely convenient in a pinch. But sometimes you just really want the small comforts from home, like your favorite brands of particular products that are nowhere to be found in Japan. Anyone who’s lived abroad for an extended period of time is bound to have that “I really wish I had brought … with me” moment. So without further ado, here are the top five things foreigners make sure to buy to bring back to Japan whenever they visit home:

5) Various cooking sauces
This was a popular choice with American respondents. Hot sauces other than Tabasco (which can be found in Japan), salsa, and ready-made pasta sauces all made the list. While the average Japanese grocery store certainly sells a variety of products, sometimes you just crave that one sauce from back home.

4) Cosmetics and toiletries
Toiletries such as shampoo that differ from country to country were the next big category. In particular, Japanese dental products don’t contain much fluoride, so many foreigners stock up on toothpaste and mouthwash in their home countries before returning to Japan. French respondents also showed a preference for French facial creams. Although many foreigners don’t seem to care either way and use Japanese products, some mentioned that not all Japanese cosmetic brands are suited for non-Asian skin.

3) Medicine and vitamins
It’s no fun trekking to the store and comparing unfamiliar medicines when you get sick in a foreign country. Several survey respondents noted that they always buy lots of painkillers and other emergency medicines at home so they won’t get stuck in the above situation in Japan. If only homemade chicken soup could be available when you need it the most…

2) Clothes, undergarments, and shoes
If you’re a foreigner on the taller side living in Japan, chances are you’ve had trouble finding clothes that fit well. Especially when it comes to finding shoes in your size. Rather than dealing with online shopping, many foreigners take the opportunity to buy clothing items that definitely fit when they go back to their home countries for a short break. 

1) Deodorant 
Topping the list at number one is none other than…deodorant?! That’s right, you read correctly. Japanese deodorant is typically the spray type and non-lasting, and just doesn’t quite make the cut for many foreigners. It’s much easier to bring a familiar brand from abroad. Sometimes it really is the little things that bring happiness…

▼ Typical Japanese spray-on deodorant

deodarant

As someone who has lived in Japan for an extended period of time, I can personally vouch for all of the items on this list. When I visited home from Japan for the first time in a year, I also bought English language books and magazines for some light-reading so that I wouldn’t have to pay the ridiculous import prices in Japan. I might also add that candies (such as mint or peanut butter chocolates), condiments like maple syrup, and herbal teas that are difficult or expensive to buy in Japan make great o-miyage for your Japanese friends. Another fun thing to try is feeding licorice/Twizzlers to your unsuspecting coworkers, just to see their disgusted faces (I have never met a Japanese person who actually liked the stuff…).

Let’s open it up to our readers now. To anyone who’s lived abroad for a significant amount of time: What did you make sure to buy while visiting your home country?

Source: Madame Riri
Images: Tumbler, Love Your Dash