I was in the middle of painting my daughter’s room and there was a knock at the door. It was my elderly Japanese across the street neighbor and she handed me what’s pictured above as I was holding my dog back from jumping on her. What I gathered was it was extra in a package she received from her daughter. She said we could pray together and then she walked away. I thanked her.

What is it? Is there something my family is supposed to do now? They’re a nice couple, but we haven’t really talked since COVID as they haven’t been out and about like they were before COVID.

Hagoita paddle and 2 shuttlecocks for Hanetsuki

An image search pointed me to this.
https://japan-brand.jnto.go.jp/crafts/woodcraft/41/

quote:

Hagoita Paddle
Do you know the Japanese traditional pastime “Hanetsuki”? This is a popular activity during the New Year? It is a game it involves players hitting badminton shuttlecocks made of soapberry seeds and bird feathers using large wooden paddles called “Hagoita”.

The Hagoita is usually rectangular in shape. When playing “Hanetsuki”, since the Hagoita’s movement is similar to the “Harau” action (a Japanese expression meaning “drive away”), it is thought to be effective to drive away evil spirits and is thus often used as a charm against evil.

eta. eyrich beat me by a minute.

Looks like a paddle and birdie like things similar to badminton, my guess

Its the Japanese version of badminton. Eyrich nailed it. The paddles get decorated and used for gift giving.

Japanese culture has A LOT of gift giving, much of it is the overwhelming cultural imperative to be deferential and considerate. You bring gifts if you have an appointment with an important figure or, family, visiting somebody's home or, business, never show up empty handed. Small gifts like this are something you pick up when traveling and you give out to friends and family upon returning.

You should give her back a box of fruit, whatever is in-season in your area. Nothing extravagant, just a gift of consideration and thanks.

Ah badminton. I'm going to guess then that she didn't say "pray together", but rather "play together". I bet she brought it over for my kids and didn't realize there was only one paddle. I'll have to get another one and have my kids play it in the front yard. We can do fruit.

Nice neighbors! Too bad there aren't more nice people like them! I have an elderly neighbor who will bring us cookies and fudge around Christmas!

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
Its the Japanese version of badminton. Eyrich nailed it. The paddles get decorated and used for gift giving.

Japanese culture has A LOT of gift giving, much of it is the overwhelming cultural imperative to be deferential and considerate. You bring gifts if you have an appointment with an important figure or, family, visiting somebody's home or, business, never show up empty handed. Small gifts like this are something you pick up when traveling and you give out to friends and family upon returning.

You should give her back a box of fruit, whatever is in-season in your area. Nothing extravagant, just a gift of consideration and thanks.

Exactly.

It’s a gift. Giftgiving is a huge part of the culture.

If you give a gift, don’t expect them to open it in front of you like a westerner.

You've never had anybody give you the Aunt Jemima treatment.

An interesting thing about the badminton shuttlecock:

“A shuttlecock (also called a bird or birdie) is a high-drag projectile used in the sport of badminton. It has an open conical shape: the cone is formed from 16 or so overlapping feathers, usually goose or duck and from the left wing only, embedded into a rounded cork base…”

https://skeptics.stackexchange...-left-wing-of-a-duck

Maybe feathers from the right wing are used in the Southern Hemisphere.

A really big bookmark

Naughty girl, she wants you to spank her.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Ah badminton. I'm going to guess then that she didn't say "pray together", but rather "play together". I bet she brought it over for my kids and didn't realize there was only one paddle. I'll have to get another one and have my kids play it in the front yard. We can do fruit.

Perhaps she gave you only 1 so you could play together as she said. I think maybe she wants to play the game with you/your family.

so not anal beads and an ass paddle?
too early this morning, I'll pull myself out of the gutter later.

As has been said before, gift giving is a big part of the culture, but not quite in a way that Americans view it. Consider it a sign of respect and a step in creating a social connection. The correct response, as some one mentioned already, would be to return the favor with another small, low key gift without any expectations. She will likely refuse it at first. Politely offer it again up to three times. Don't be offended if she doesn't open it in front of you. Its considered rude.

She's probably lonely. Late Summer is a time when Japanese families get together and exchange gifts. Covid is hitting a lot of people in ways that have nothing to do with their respiratory health. This might be an excellent opportunity to make a new friend and share the better parts of our respective cultures.

quote:

Originally posted by muzzleloader:
so not anal beads and an ass paddle?
too early this morning, I'll pull myself out of the gutter later.

That went right in the ditch really quick. Made me snort.