What is the custom of 'Yame-gashi'? Explaining the flow of its spread from the Edo period to the present

Introduction

When leaving a job, there is a custom of distributing sweets to colleagues and supervisors at the workplace, known as 'Yame-gashi' (resignation sweets). While bringing a box of sweets upon resignation is not stipulated by law or company rules, it is a habit seen in many workplaces as a way to express gratitude to those who have helped you.

When did this custom of sending resignation sweets begin, and why does it continue to this day? In this article, we will trace the changes in souvenirs and resignation greetings from the Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras, starting from the gift-giving culture of Japan since the Edo period.

What is Yame-gashi?

Yame-gashi refers to the sweets that a person leaving a workplace due to resignation or the end of a contract distributes to colleagues and supervisors on their final day of work.

Generally, they have the following characteristics:

• Individually wrapped
• Can be stored at room temperature
• Have a long shelf life
• There are slightly more than the number of people
• Can be placed in a shared space for distribution

Cookies, financiers, madeleines, rice crackers, and baumkuchen tend to be chosen.

However, the term 'Yame-gashi' is not a formal name that has existed for a long time. It is considered a colloquial term that has been used in recent years on the internet and social media to easily describe the box of sweets given upon resignation.

Gift-giving culture in the Edo period

To understand Yame-gashi, one must first know about Japan's gift-giving culture.

In Edo-period Japan, the custom of giving gifts at milestones in life and social life, such as seasonal greetings, weddings, childbirth, visits to the sick, and Buddhist memorial services, was widespread.

Gifts included rice, sake, fish, mochi, sweets, clothing, and daily necessities. Gifts not only showed gratitude and congratulations to the recipient but also played a role in maintaining human relationships.

Also, in the Edo period, commerce and distribution developed, and the number of confectionery shops increased in urban areas. With the progress of sugar distribution, the types of sweets suitable for gifts, such as manju, yokan, rakugan, and rice crackers, also increased.

The act of 'bringing a souvenir when visiting,' which spread during this era, is considered the foundation of the current box-of-sweets culture.

Establishment of souvenir culture

Souvenirs in the Edo period meant greetings when visiting someone's home or local specialties brought back from a trip.

As pilgrimages to temples and shrines and travel became popular, sweets sold in temple towns and along highways began to be used as souvenirs. Sweets that were easy to distribute to the family of the visited party or neighbors were highly practical gifts.

At that time, wrapping paper and decorative boxes like those used today were not fully widespread. Therefore, packing sweets into folding boxes or boxes and arranging them for easy transport itself increased their value as gifts.

Behind the term 'kashi-ori' (box of sweets) lies this culture of giving boxed sweets.


Modernization in the Meiji era

In the Meiji era, Japan's gift-giving culture changed significantly.

Railways and postal systems were developed, and the movement of people and the distribution of goods became active. Specialty sweets that had previously been consumed within the region began to be transported to distant places via stations and highways.

The custom of bringing back sweets from trips to family and acquaintances also spread, and souvenirs came to have meanings not only as 'greetings when visiting' but also as 'commemorations of travel' and 'compensation for being away'.

Furthermore, in the Meiji era, due to the influence of Westernization, Western sweets such as biscuits, chocolate, and cakes entered Japan. In addition to traditional Japanese sweets, Western sweets also became gifts, expanding the choices for souvenirs.

The increase in confectionery shops and Western-style confectionery shops also supported the culture of giving boxed sweets.

Development of department stores and gift products

From the late Meiji period to the Taisho era, department stores played a major role in the spread of gift-giving culture.

At department stores, products suitable for gifts, such as Japanese sweets, Western sweets, sake, food, and clothing, could be purchased in one place. Systems were put in place to handle product packaging and delivery, making gift-giving more convenient.

In newspaper advertisements and store guides, products tailored to the purpose, such as mid-year gifts, year-end gifts, New Year's greetings, and souvenirs for visits, were introduced.

Through such sales methods, gift-giving spread from being something for only a few wealthy families and merchants to a familiar habit for general households.


Corporate culture and resignation greetings

From the Meiji to Taisho and Showa eras, organizations such as modern companies, government offices, and schools developed.

As the number of people working in organizations increased, milestones related to workplace relationships, such as joining a company, transfers, reassignments, and resignations, also increased. In such situations, the act of greeting those around you and handing over sweets or items became established.

A box of sweets upon resignation mainly has the following meanings:

• Gratitude for the help received while employed
• A greeting to announce resignation
• An expression of intent to end the relationship with those you worked with on good terms
• A feeling of wanting to maintain a good relationship even after resignation

It cannot be said that the custom of resigning employees bringing a box of sweets to the entire workplace started at the same time in every company. It is thought to have been shaped little by little depending on the size of the company, region, industry, and workplace customs.

Background of the spread in the Showa era

In the Showa era, especially during the post-war period of high economic growth, a way of working based on long-term employment at a company spread.

As the number of people working at one company for many years increased, resignation became a major milestone not only for the person themselves but for the entire workplace. On the occasion of retirement, transfers, and reassignments, farewell parties and greetings were held, and the opportunity to hand over a box of sweets increased.

Also, the increase in the number of people in the workplace and the generalization of the style of working in department units had an influence. Rather than giving items to individuals one by one, it was more rational to bring a box of sweets to the department and have everyone share them.

The spread of individually wrapped sweets is also important. With the increase in products that can be easily distributed while considering hygiene, the box of sweets upon resignation became a habit that is easy to practice.


Changes in the Heisei era

In the Heisei era, changing jobs became common, and the reasons for resignation and ways of working diversified.

The circumstances for leaving a workplace are diverse, including not only retirement but also changing jobs, marriage, childbirth, contract expiration, end of dispatch period, and family circumstances.

Along with this, greetings upon resignation also changed from formal to more casual. In addition to giving a large box of sweets to the entire department, methods of giving sweets individually to people who were particularly helpful also began to be seen.

On the other hand, the choices of where to purchase increased, such as department stores, station buildings, convenience stores, and mail order. It became easier to choose according to the budget and the size of the workplace, from products for a small number of people to assortments for a large number of people.


The 'Yame-gashi' of the Reiwa era

The Yame-gashi of the Reiwa era is becoming freer while inheriting traditional workplace practices.

While there are people who distribute sweets upon resignation, there are also many who do not. A box of sweets upon resignation is not mandated by company rules or law, but is merely an option to express gratitude.

In recent years, due to the spread of remote work and free addressing, cases where people in the same workplace do not gather in one place have increased. Therefore, there are also ways to greet resignation via email or chat, or to send gifts individually.

On social media, there are posts calling sweets distributed upon resignation 'Yame-gashi'. With the spread of this name, the box of sweets upon resignation that had existed for a long time has come to be recognized as a familiar topic.


Reasons why Yame-gashi continues

The reason why the custom of Yame-gashi remains to this day is not just a formality.

First, sweets are not too expensive and are gifts that are unlikely to place a heavy burden on the recipient. Compared to flowers or commemorative gifts, they are less likely to be divisive in terms of preference, and they have the advantage of being easy to distribute according to the number of people in the workplace.

Next, it can be mentioned that gratitude that is difficult to convey with words alone can be shown in a visible form. By adding a box of sweets, not just saying 'Thank you', a break is created in the resignation greeting.

Furthermore, being able to share and eat together is a major feature. A box of sweets becomes a shared item for the entire workplace, not just between the giver and the receiver. Therefore, it also plays a role in creating the final communication.


Is Yame-gashi an obligation?

Yame-gashi is not something that must be prepared.

If there is no such custom in the workplace, or if it is not appropriate to hand over a box of sweets due to circumstances surrounding the resignation, there is no need to force yourself to prepare it. Even just polite greetings, handovers, and words of gratitude can sufficiently convey your sincerity.

Conversely, if it is common for resigning employees to distribute sweets in the workplace, preparing them will make it easier to maintain harmony with those around you.

When you are unsure, it is good to check the following points:

• Have people who resigned in the past distributed sweets?
• Is there a custom for resignation within the department?
• Can you greet many people on your final day of work?
• Is it an amount you can afford without difficulty?
• Can you express gratitude in ways other than sweets?

What is important is not the act of handing over a box of sweets itself, but conveying gratitude to the other party in a way that suits you.


How to choose modern Yame-gashi

When preparing Yame-gashi, it is important to choose products that are easy to handle in the workplace.

Individually wrapped, room temperature storage, and having a margin in the expiration date are the basics. Products that require refrigeration or cakes that need to be cut can be difficult to handle depending on the workplace environment.

Also, it is safe to prepare a few more than the number of people, not exactly the number of people. You can also respond to people who are absent or people who suddenly become targets for distribution.

Products that are too expensive may make the recipient feel uneasy. Generally, when distributing to the entire department, it is important to consider the balance between the number of people and the budget within a reasonable range.


Timing of handing over and a word

The timing for handing over is suitable from the afternoon of the final day of work to before leaving work. Avoid busy times for work and choose a time when as many people as possible are present.

If you can hand it over to each person, it is natural to add a word like the following:

'Thank you very much for everything. Please enjoy this with everyone if you like.'

If it is difficult to hand it directly to everyone, there is also a way to place it in a shared space and add a message.

'I will be resigning today. Thank you for everything. Please enjoy this with everyone.'

There is usually no problem even if you do not attach a noshi (gift wrapping paper) to a box of sweets upon resignation. If you are handing it to someone formal, there is also a way to attach a noshi with 'Onrei' (gratitude) written on it.

Summary

Yame-gashi is a relatively new term that refers to sweets distributed to the workplace upon resignation. Behind it is the culture of seasonal gift-giving and souvenirs for visits that has continued since the Edo period.

In the Meiji era, local specialties and boxed sweets were widely distributed due to the development of railways, post offices, confectionery shops, and department stores. As corporate culture and individually wrapped sweets spread from the Taisho to Showa eras, the custom of handing over a box of sweets for greetings of reassignment and resignation became established in the workplace.

Since the Heisei era, job changes and ways of working have diversified, and in the Reiwa era, the influence of remote work and social media has been added. As a result, Yame-gashi has changed from a fixed form to a flexible way to express gratitude to the workplace.

Yame-gashi is not an obligation. However, as a means to express gratitude to those who have helped you and to leave the workplace on good terms, it will continue to play a certain role in the future.