How to Give Wedding Gift Money (Goshugi) in Japan: Typical Amounts, Even Numbers, New Bills and Which Way They Face
Once a wedding invitation arrives in Japan, it's time to start preparing your goshugi, the gift of money you bring to the wedding. How much to give, whether ¥20,000 or ¥40,000 should be avoided, how to get new bills, which way the bills face. There are more decisions than you might expect if you don't want to scramble on the day. This article goes through typical amounts by relationship, amounts to avoid, preparing new bills, how to insert the bills and fold the outer envelope, and how to write the omotegaki (the inscription on the front) and joint names.
Typical goshugi amounts by relationship
When you attend the reception, goshugi expresses your congratulations and also helps cover the cost of your meal and the return gift. These are the commonly cited guidelines.
| Relationship | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| Friend or coworker | ¥30,000 |
| Boss (at a subordinate's wedding) | ¥30,000–50,000 |
| Cousin | ¥30,000–50,000 |
| Sibling | ¥50,000–100,000 |
| Nephew or niece | ¥50,000–100,000 |
| Attending as a married couple | ¥50,000–70,000 |
If you won't attend the reception, a wedding gift of around ¥10,000 is typical, with the omotegaki 「御結婚御祝」 ("wedding congratulations"). Amounts are sometimes set by regional or family customs or workplace practice, so it's reassuring to check with others attending in the same position beforehand.
Amounts to avoid (even numbers, 4 and 9)
For weddings, the basic rule is to avoid even numbers, which can be divided and so suggest the couple "splitting up". The numbers 4 and 9 are avoided for both celebrations and condolences, because 4 (shi) sounds like the word for "death" and 9 (ku) like the word for "suffering". That said, some amounts have recently become accepted exceptions.
| Amount | How it's viewed | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ¥10,000, ¥30,000, ¥50,000, ¥70,000 | No problem | Odd numbers that can't be divided evenly |
| ¥20,000 | Often accepted | Seen as a "pair". If it bothers you, make it 3 bills: one ¥10,000 bill + two ¥5,000 bills |
| ¥40,000 | Avoid | Suggests "death" |
| ¥60,000 | Sometimes avoided | An even number that can be divided |
| ¥80,000 | Fine | The character for 8 widens toward the bottom, a symbol of growing prosperity |
| ¥90,000 | Avoid | Suggests "suffering" |
| ¥100,000 | Fine | Common as a nice round figure |
Some people also mind combinations that come to 4 or 9 bills. For example, if you avoid ¥40,000 and give ¥35,000, three ¥10,000 bills plus one ¥5,000 bill makes 4 bills. If that bothers you, change the denominations to shift the count.
Prepare new bills
Goshugi uses new, crisp bills. They show that you prepared ahead for this day. This is the opposite of condolence money (kōden), where new bills are avoided, so don't mix them up.
- Asking for an exchange at a bank counter usually gets you new bills (exchange machines don't always give new ones)
- Counters may not be open right before the event, so prepare early once the invitation arrives
- If you really can't get new bills, choose clean bills with as few creases and marks as possible
Inserting the bills and folding the outer envelope
- 1
Line the bills up the same way
Insert the bills with the portrait facing the front of the inner envelope and at the top. With several bills, have them all face the same way.
- 2
Write the amount and your address on the inner envelope
Write the amount on the front of the inner envelope in daiji (formal numerals), such as 「金 参萬円」 (¥30,000), and your address and name on the back. It's easier to write before putting the bills in.
- 3
Wrap in the outer envelope and overlap the flaps
On the back of the outer envelope, fold the bottom flap over the top one. This is the shape of "catching joy and facing upward". Folding the top flap over the bottom is the way for condolences, so be careful.
- 4
Carry it wrapped in a fukusa
Use a fukusa (wrapping cloth) in a warm color such as red, orange or pink, or purple, which works for both joyful and sad occasions. At reception, take it out of the fukusa and hand it over with the omotegaki facing the receiver so they can read it.
How to write the amount on the inner envelope is explained in detail in Writing the amount on the inner envelope, with a daiji chart, and how to write the address on the back in Writing the back of the inner envelope.
Writing the omotegaki and your name
For a wedding, choose a shugi-bukuro with a red-and-white or gold-and-silver awaji knot (a type of musubikiri, the tight knot) and a noshi ornament. The most common omotegaki is 「寿」 ("celebration"), and 「御結婚御祝」 and 「御祝」 can also be used. If the envelope has the omotegaki printed, you can use it as is.
- Write your full name centered below the mizuhiki cord, slightly smaller than the omotegaki
- Use deep black ink. Write with a brush pen or brush, and avoid ballpoint pens
- For a married couple attending together, write the husband's full name in the center and only the wife's given name to its left
- Joint names from friends go up to three people. Order them from the right by seniority, or in Japanese syllabary order if there's no hierarchy
- For four or more, write the representative's name and 「外一同」 ("and all others"), list everyone's names on a separate sheet and put it in the inner envelope
The meaning of mizuhiki knots and colors is summarized in Types of mizuhiki and how to choose.
Handing it over on the day, and sending it if you can't attend
Goshugi is handed over at the reception desk. After signing the guest book, take the envelope out of the fukusa, place it on the folded fukusa, and offer it with both hands, omotegaki facing the receiver. A brief "Congratulations on this happy day" is enough.
If you unavoidably can't attend, hand it over about a week before the wedding, or send the envelope itself by cash registered mail. Some cash registered mail envelopes are large enough to hold a shugi-bukuro as is, and adding a short congratulatory letter conveys your feelings. If you have to cancel suddenly on the day, it's usual to send it afterward.
Checking amount warnings and a sample with the tool
- 1
Choose "wedding goshugi"
Choose the occasion in How to Write Shugi-bukuro & Kōden-bukuro to see suggested omotegaki (寿, 御結婚御祝, 御祝), mizuhiki colors (red and white, gold and silver) and typical amounts by relationship.
- 2
Enter the amount and check for warnings
Enter the amount to see the daiji to write on the inner envelope (such as 金 参萬円) and the combination and number of bills. Warnings appear for amounts containing 4 or 9, even amounts, and combinations that come to 4 or 9 bills.
- 3
Enter names and save the sample
Enter the name for the outer envelope (couples and joint names supported) and the address for the inner envelope to get vertical samples of the outer envelope, the front of the inner envelope and the back of the inner envelope, which you can save as images.
FAQ
- How much goshugi is typical for a friend's wedding?
- ¥30,000 is the common guideline if you attend the reception. If you don't attend, a wedding gift of around ¥10,000 is typical.
- Is ¥20,000 rude as goshugi?
- ¥20,000 is increasingly accepted as a "pair". If it bothers you, you can make the bill count odd by using one ¥10,000 bill and two ¥5,000 bills, three bills in total.
- Which way should the bills face in a shugi-bukuro?
- Insert them with the portrait facing the front of the inner envelope and at the top. With several bills, line them up the same way. Kōden is the reverse, with the portrait facing the back and at the bottom.
- Which flap goes on top on the back of a shugi-bukuro?
- Fold the bottom flap over the top one. It's the shape of catching joy and happiness facing upward. Folding the top flap over the bottom is the way for condolences.
- What if I can't get new bills?
- Choose the cleanest bills you can, with as few creases and marks as possible. Besides bank counters, some wedding venues can exchange bills for new ones, so ask in advance.
Tools in this article
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