There are many Japan Facts about free gifts but how do you go about receiving one? There's nothing that I enjoy more when strolling through the streets of Japan than coming across a promotional event. Advertising is crucial to Japanese companies since the method and successfulness of product promotion determines whether or not said product will make it in the competitive market. To say that the advertising is fiercely competitive is an extreme understatement. There are so many choices in Japan when it comes to products and services that it can be confusing at times. The only way to differentiate between one and the other is by being drawn in by an impressive advertising campaign. And, more often than not, those advertising campaigns include a free sample of... just about anything you can think of!

Probably the most popular freebie that'll be offered to you anywhere near a shopping area or train station exists is a packet of tissues. But make no mistake this form of advertising has nothing to do with tissues. It's all about the ads that are tucked away inside the packet of tissues, plainly visible to the recipient of said tissues. This highly mobile and cheap form of advertising has been proven an excellent way of reaching the consumer with minimal effort since the 1960's. What kinds of companies advertise with these free tissue giveaways? Telephone companies, fitness clubs, izakayas, job recruit centers, optometrists, loan companies and so forth. For anyone wondering just how many of these tissues are distributed every year, how does the number 4+ billion sound? Like a lot of tissues I'd say! So not only are tissues a very cost efficient way of promoting one's company, but they are also well received by 76% of the population that accept them as they walk by. They sure must've done well during hay fever season I think! In addition to accepting the tissues, a good majority of Japanese people feel obligated to the company responsible for distributing them afterwards. Just think of all the people who switched their cell phone service over to SoftBank after a relentless tissue campaign loaded with coupons and free incentives.

I can think of several people who have saved a substantial amount of money on contact lenses thanks to tissue coupons. And then there were a couple that enjoyed a complimentary service with their visit to a local hair salon as a show of gratitude for stopping in for a haircut. I myself discovered my current hair dresser, internet service supplier, and the fitness club that I had been going to up until a while ago (I think that I now lack the motivation that it takes to stay fit) through my collection of handy tissues. Actually, the internet service provider was definitely the best connection that I made by following the trail of tissues. Not only did I get the first 2 months free, but they were also generous enough to give me 10,000 yen to spend in Yodobashi Camera! It sure did help me out when I needed to buy an electronic dictionary before I received my first pay check in Japan!

Tissues are great and all but maybe you'd like to receive something a bit more interesting. That shouldn't be a problem with the hot summer season on the way! One of the most useful products that get handed out during the summer are paper fans. These are great for waving the heat away and stirring up some fresh air around your face in the baking humidity. These fans are another form of advertising that works remarkably well. Most people are eager to accept fan handouts because they're useful and free, and the companies benefit greatly from the free advertising. It's very common to see people walking down the streets in the summer brandishing their fans that are covered in bold ads. So not only does the receiver of the fan take in the advertising, but the people surrounding him/her also take note of what is displayed on the fan. I tend to collect these fans, always accepting new ones and then comparing with the old ones to determine which has the most attractive design and advertising. These fans also serve well as free souvenirs for the family back home to show them a few samples of what kind of products and services are available in Japan.

Together, whitening sauce and tea might not make a very attractive beverage, but separately they target two very important interests/concerns of the Japanese female population - pale skin and weight loss. I'd been picking up handfuls of whitening sauce (meant to whiten and brighten the pigmentation of the skin) for at least two years before I actually fully understood what the product was meant for. Back home, most people prefer a good tan to a pale complexion so I never suspected that such a product really existed. It's the reverse in Japan with most women going out of their way to avoid tans and dark skin. Two things that sell like hotcakes during the summer are UV hats that cover the entire face and parasols. Both the hats and the parasols do a pretty good job of preventing any kind of unwanted tanning. Anyway, when I finally did catch on to the whitening sauce, or cream (it seems to vary according to the specific manufacturer) I promptly handed over my stash to friends who enjoy a lighter complexion. As awful as sunburns are, I myself prefer to bake in the sun until I've tested the limits of my sunscreen lotion.

Then there's the tea... I've seen both Japanese and foreign brands being handed out, drawing a good crowd of tea connoisseurs that swarmed around the basket-bearing women that were handing them out. I appreciate and savor the green and black teas that wind up in the bottom of my junkyard of a bag but pause when I get something called "Diet Detoc." I'm not a big fan of diets because eating makes me happy but if tea is involved, it can't be all bad. Except that this time, the ‘detoc' sounded too much like ‘detox' and I was wary of what kind of magic this tea would work with my system. So, I took it into work at Smith's Kyobashi and showed it to the Japanese staff ladies that translated the writing on the back. Thankfully it wasn't literally intended to detoxify the internal organs, it was only an herbal concoction designed to feel refreshing. That was a relief to hear! However, after all the reading and discussion was over with, it was decided that the tea was to be shared amongst a bunch of weight-conscious women addicted to sweets. Oh well... easy come, easy go!

Who can really say no to free food? For me, it's an impossible task. Apparently, for the rest of the Osaka population, it's equally stressful to walk past a free food display without getting hold of a sample or two. One of the most impressive marketing displays I've ever seen in Japan occurred in the center of Umeda, in front of the Big Man television across from the Kinokuniya bookstore. There were around eight or more women dressed in superhero costumes handing out free bags of potato chips. Full sized one-serving bags that you'd have no problem finding in a convenience store or supermarket. The number of people milling towards those potato chips was really a sight to see. Men and women of all ages were altering their courses to ensure that they passed by close enough to stick out a hand for a free bag. I'm not really big on potato chips, and I was heading diagonally in the other direction but have to admit that I turned back just to grab a bag. And was I ever glad that I did! They were very yummy and went well with watching an interesting Japanese drama.

I've never seen tea or potato chips being handed out for free in Canada, but I guess that it might not be completely impossible considering that they sometimes give away samples of chocolate. One similarity between the two countries is that they both think that passing out samples of shampoo and hair conditioner is important. The paper fans would never happen in Canada because the summer isn't so long and nowhere near as unbearably humid as Japan.

Some other unique items that I was surprised to receive in Japan include: a hokkairo (a very useful little package that heats up if you vigorously shake it due to a chemical reaction), a stuffed orange cat (from Yahoo BB), a plant the size of my index finger, two packets of soba, scented bath salt, and mochi.

The hokkairo was the most entertaining trinket that I ever received for walking through a train station. It did take me a while to figure out what it was because the packaging was loaded with advertising, but once I did I had a field day with it. A lot of people in Japan hold onto these hot packets during the winter to keep their hands warm. Quite a few stick them to the insides of their shirts to keep their backs and stomachs warm against the cold and unfriendly drafts. My friend was forever re-sticking hers to her back because she refused to continue on with her day once the heat was sapped dry. I wonder why they don't sell these neat little items in Canada. They would sure be a hit for the freezing winter season when you're sitting in your car, teeth chattering, praying for the engine to start. Or they'd be very handy for managing long waits in bus stops, preventing frostbite, and maybe even keeping beverages warm. The ideas are endless.

Just recently, the Softbank close to Smith's Kyobashi was having a promotion which involved receiving a free mascot for signing up. I'm doing my best to stay in control of the clutter in my apartment so I managed to avoid the mascot and made it to work that day, but I was still tempted. A few years ago, some friends and I were wandering around aimlessly, having grown tired of window shopping (buying is so much more fun than just looking), when we came across the Yahoo BB booth. I'd already received a nice gift certificate from Yahoo BB for signing up with them and was curious to see what they were giving out this time. My friends and I ventured a little bit closer until we attracted the attention of one of the sales representatives. He was very friendly and assured us that we needn't buy anything; they were just handing out scratch cards. So we were given one card each and told to scratch it. Everyone in our group (with the exception of one unfortunate person) won a bright orange Yahoo BB cat. The staff chatted with us for a while, wanting to practice their English skills, before we headed off for dinner with our neon cats.

As the weather gets clearer and sunnier and the temperature rises, I find myself longing for more free samples. I've already spotted a paper fan at work so I guess that I just need to keep an eye out for one of my own. With the humidity capable of getting as sweltering as it does, I also wouldn't mind some more free oil blotting sheets left in the mailbox, or another free handkerchief to add to my collection. Some more snacks would also be nice. Ever since I was introduced to the taste of salad Pretz through free samples I've become addicted to them, buying them whenever I need munchies for watching a movie. And I do feel kind of loyal to the company that gave me those oil blotting sheets so I find myself targeting that brand when I go shopping. I guess it just goes to show you that good advertising really does pay off. So keep your eyes peeled this summer for loads of free stuff!

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