Gift Ideas for Japanese Pen-Pal?

[Kairi]

I have a Japanese friend whose 21st birthday is coming up, so I'd like to include an extra-special gift with the card I'm sending her.

Problem is, since we've been writing back and forth for several years now, I'm really running out of ideas. I've sent her all of the basics such as pictures, postcards, little souvenirs, magazines, snacks, etc. It doesn't help that I live in a middle-of-nowhere hick town, so it's not like I can get her much that really symbolizes America. Unless she wants a shirt with a Texas longhorn on it, but...uhh... @_@;

So, any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thank you!

[EricTheFred]

Y'know.. the shirt might not be such a bad idea. I know shirts with unusual logos, etc, are popular with the teens and young adults in my wife's country. I think we may have given a Longhorn shirt to one of her neices, in fact.

I'll try to think of something else, though. Have you considered destination souvenirs? (In other words, not from where you live, but of some moderately reachable tourist site? Like, for example, if you're on the coast somewhere, a NASA or Galveston or South Padre souvenir...) Makes for a good excuse for a weekend excursion to treat yourself!

[Puguni]

Threadless T-shirts are always fun to give away. They're kind of pricey, but really good quality.

[LadyRushia]

From what I've experienced, foreigners like pretty much anything that has an English word on it. All of the Chinese students I hung out with over the past two years both here and in China enjoyed things like University t-shirts or anything Nike related.

[FukuokaGirl]

I concur~~!~
American ANYTHING is popular in Japan. I have several Japanese penpals myself, and some of them have even been living over here now for a little bit. I think that T-shirt might actually do the trick. XD Of course along with that you don't have to include EVERYTHING being all America. If the penpal is a girl, anything *kawaii* will do the trick!
An extra adorable plushie toy, a cell phone charm, a necklace.. anything that most girls would like ne? Guys... well I dunno guys... but maybe something gaming?

But yeah... find some funny English T-Shirts and have fun!!! Ganbatte ne! XD
Tell them otanjoubi omedetou! (Happy Birthday!) XDDD
But

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Threadless T-shirts are always fun to give away. They're kind of pricey, but really good quality.

They finally reprinted it, so I bought myself this today. =)
http://www.threadless.com/product/383/The_Communist_Party

Edit: Buy your penpal a CD! (like Coldplay's newest album) Or you can make her a mix with various American songs!