Japanese gift etiquette?

[JusticeZero]

There is a gentleman downstairs who appears to be quite Japanese, and has an accent that sounds Japanese to my albeit not well experienced ears.

He asked if he could use our parking space; we agreed as we do not use it. Today he gave us a gift of salmon, very good salmon by the looks of it, but unfortunately salmon which my wife and daughter are are unable to eat due to an iodine sensitivity. I thanked him in a profuse albeit baffled manner, and now have salmon in my freezer. (The daughter, mind, made a snarky comment from the back.) What should I do?

[sensei8]

For your wife and your daughter as to their iodine sensitivity: dispose of the salmon!

Did he come to your house to give you this gift? If so, well, Japanese etiquette considers it unpolite to go to someone's house without a gift; the salmon in this case. I'm sure you didn't take it right away, but, you did eventually and this is good. Why? If you had took the salmon right away, it would've indicated to this gentleman that you didn't value it much, if at all. Your gift to him was the parking space, therefore, he gave the best gift he had at the time. Salmon is a good gift to give/get!

You've gracefully accepted the salmon as well as having thanked him for his gift, and the salmon is now in your freezer. It's your freezer and now it's your salmon to do with as you desire.

Face has been saved! This is important!

[ninjanurse]

In my experience Asian cultures are very big on reciprocity and gift giving is very important to them. Keep the salmon-enjoy it in the spirit it was given (assuming you are not sensitive to iodine yourself)!

[JusticeZero]

Well.. I like salmon, but I wouldn't feel right eating it in a house with people who are allergic... I'm concerned that he may have heard that from the comment in the background.

[Lupin1]

Well an allergy is different than a sensitivity. Sensitivities only usually affect you if you eat the food in question and then they usually just lead to upset stomachs and diarreah. Allergies are usually much more serious. You should ask your wife and daughter just how much it affects them and if they would be in danger of any kind of reaction if you ate the salmon yourself. My guess, if it's just sensitivity, is that you should be fine.

Unless of course you're worried that it might be rude and make them feel left out or something. In that cause, tough luck. I'm allergic to most fresh fruit even though I love it but my family eats it in front of me all the time. Why should they give up something they love and that's good for them just because I can't eat it? They should be happy that you, at least, get to enjoy it. And besides, most people who don't like or have never had salmon before aren't usually attracted to the smell of it, so my guess is they won't be all that jealous of you for getting to eat it all yourself.

[JusticeZero]

It's a severe sensitivity. I have been notified that iodine is not a substance to which someone can actually be 'allergic' to in the technical sense. They do, however, break out in a nasty and miserable rash and such if they eat more than a tiny taste of oceangoing seafood.

It's a whole freaking fish, more or less, in a single vacuum pack. One of the halves would make for a couple meals for me, and i've got no good way to repackage the other half.

[Ichi_Geki]

It's a severe sensitivity. I have been notified that iodine is not a substance to which someone can actually be 'allergic' to in the technical sense. They do, however, break out in a nasty and miserable rash and such if they eat more than a tiny taste of oceangoing seafood.

It's a whole freaking fish, more or less, in a single vacuum pack. One of the halves would make for a couple meals for me, and i've got no good way to repackage the other half.

I would offer to eat it with the Man who gave it to you, in HIS house.