The first couple of years we lived in Japan, everyone on my holiday gift list got yukata, silly Japanese foods, washi books and other tidbits from the land of the rising sun. Then I realised that they probably didn't want them and the effort to purchase, pack and ship them really wasn't appreciated.
So now I send food from catalogs.
When I was a kid, I used to think that the food baskets from Harry & David and Omaha Steaks were extremely lame, though I admit to liking the little sausages. Now I realise how truly great these gifts are (at least for the gift giver). Everyone eats!
So if you're on my gift list, now's your chance to weigh in: fruit or meat for you this year?
Might I also suggest COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOkies?
Sites such as http://www.cherylco.com/ offer sweets at only slightly outrageous catalog prices. :) I hope you've been shopping for the zous - you know how hard they are to buy for and they probably won't settle for catalog items. Mitsokoshi fruit - maybe, but not much less.
Apologies - I believe the correct spelling is Mitsukoshi.
Cookies, good idea. :-)
I've been looking for mail-order peanuts, but no luck so far.