Gift exchange as the source of rural distinctiveness

In this chapter, I look at villagers’ perceptions of gifts and their definitions of reciprocity. I consider aspects of the villagers’ daily and seasonal exchange, what they give, when they return, to whom and why, in terms of the shifting relations among households rather than as mere representation of an internally ‘harmonious’ group and ‘homogeneous’ practices within Japanese society. The material presented makes clear that gift exchange and the use of wrapping cannot be studied outside of the context of the production and distribution of gifts and commodities. Further, relations of power among givers and recipients must be contextualised in the larger process of producing, wrapping and consuming gifts, rather than become reduced to the moment of giving gifts.