Chris’ Gift Guide

Nov 21

Written By Kisa Ito

Check out holiday gift picks from

CHRIS AIHARA

Worked, played, ate, shopped, conspired, inspired, and retired in LT.

Favorite Little Tokyo small businesses: Too hard to choose!

1. Spice Hair wax ($19) and Orange Shower spray hair wax ($24) from Du Japon Hair Club (in-store only, 454 E 2nd Street)

“Good product for short hair, spray wax convenient.”

2. Asian Zodiac Animal Kit ($36.95) from JANM Store (online and in-store at 100 N Central Ave)

“Fun family project, put together and decorate 12 zodiac animals.”

3. Kenzan (flower frog) ikebana shears ($25~$30) from Rafu Bussan (in-store only, 414 E 2nd Street)

“Flower 'frog' for arrangements. Shears for garden or home flower arrangements.”

4. Genmaicha roasted brown rice green tea bags ($20) from Tea Master (online and in-store at 450 E 2st Street)

“So delicious.”

5. Socks with Japanese designs and cute depictions of yuzu, poke, ramen, etc. ($6) from Tokyo Central/Marukai Market (in-store only at 123 Ellison Onizuka St #105)

“Fun and inexpensive stocking stuffer.”

6. Deitanseki charcoal soap ($10.95) from Bunkado (online and in-store at 340 E 1st Street)

“This soap really cleanses your face. Also, Bunkado has nice washi paper for wrapping and decorations, and toys for kids like daruma, kewpie, kami fusen.”

7. Small bamboo rake ($12) and other home accessories from Anzen Hardware (in-store only, 309 E 1st Street)

“Handy for raking in small places, so cute.”

8. Tees & sweats, like "Don't Lose to Corona" tee ($29.80, in-store and online) and sweatshirt ($42.80, online only) from Popkiller (349 E 2nd Street)

“Creative, irreverent.”