FEATURE
All they want for Christmas

Nobby Kealey

Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be a hassle, thanks to Metropolis’ all-inclusive gift guide. Matt Wilce and Tama Miyake round up the best buys for everyone on your list.

FOR HER

Give the women in your life something to smile about with gifts that pamper and please.

Color her festive

Who couldn’t use a little color in her wardrobe this winter? Swatch’s latest line has something for everyone, from candy-colored watchbands to sleek silvery faces. (From JY4,500 at Swatch)
 

Body by Santa

Put a smile on her face and some bubbles in her bath with a holiday season kit from Sephora. Custom-designed cases in gold, silver and black are filled with soaps, bath gels, brush sets and polishes to get her through the season in style. (From JY800 at Sephora)

Give me Libertine

Released just this year in Japan, Vivienne Westwood’s Libertine fragrance is sure to delight with its mix of lily, English rose, honeysuckle and citrus scents. Pick up a bottle for that scented someone. (JY6,500 for 30ml, JY9,500 for 50ml from department stores nationwide)

Merry massage

Treat a loved one to some serious pampering this Christmas with a gift certificate from Shou Nail and Beauty Salon. Offering hydrating facials, sea salt body rubs and Swedish massages, this Harajuku haven is the perfect place for a little holiday downtime. (JY1,500 and up)

Smells like holiday spirit

Something about the holiday season always smells good. Give your friends a delicious sniff of spice and amber this year with a beautifully carved terracotta ball from L’Artisan Parfumeur. (JY13,000 from Anniversaire Omotesando)

Wrap ‘er up

Keep the women in your life looking stylish and feeling flush with colorful new scarves from Benetton. Available in sheer chiffons and chunky wools, these wraps are sure to suit every taste. (JY3,300~JY4,900 from Benetton)

Point it out

Give your PDA-toting pals a fashionable pointer with the platinum-plated stylus from Montblanc. Compatible with the Palm V, the touch pen comes with an inlaid Montblanc star and is also available with gold plating. (JY19,000 from Montblanc)

FOR HIM

Toss out the ties in favor of some fun and fashion for all the men on your list.

Warming trend

Make sure the men in your life don’t catch cold with Benetton’s latest wool sweaters and winter accessories. (JY3,900~JY13,000 from Benetton)

Koizumi Kitsch

Only in Japan could you get a likeness of the country’s leader to hang off your keitai or grace your wrist. Grab one of each for your fellow partisans and political watchers. (Watch JY3,500 from Hall M, strap JY580 from Kiddy Land)

Santa 007

Suunto’s new Observer is designed for the business tycoon, alpine explorer and urban warrior all rolled into one. Available in stainless steel or titanium, this compass-equipped timepiece measures altitude and barometric pressure while tracking split times and ski runs. (JY39,000 to JY62,000 from BEAMS and watch stores)

Base play

Baseball fans don’t have to wait until next year to catch a glimpse of Japan’s most famous export, Ichiro Suzuki. The 2001 American League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player is available to grace desktops and bookshelves starting this month. (JY12,800 from Major League Baseball Properties)

Reel him in

Couch potatoes will love the chance to fish Japanese waters without leaving the comfort of home. Epoch’s “Excite Fishing” game hooks up to the television for hours of casting and reeling, complete with choice of bait and locale. (JY5,980 from toy and electronics stores)

Just relax

Soothe a friend’s holiday stress with a holistic relaxation plan from Sofitel Tokyo. These Western-style aromatherapy sessions include foot massages, reflexology and light French lunch and dinner menus, and are available with accommodations for two. (From JY8,800 at Sofitel Tokyo)

It’s a wrap

Nobby Kealey

Protect your loved one from plummeting Tokyo temperatures by wrapping him up in warm woolen scarves from The Gap. Available in charcoal, navy and other masculine colors, the scarves also come in plenty of styles. (JY2,400 from Gap stores)

FOR KIDS

Keep them happy with toys and treats even Santa would have a hard time topping.

Ho Ho Hogwarts

With Harry Potter now the most popular kid in town, these Lego sets are sure to fly off the shelves. Let aspiring wizards create their own magic with Harry’s Hogwarts School, the Forbidden Corridor and six other sorcerers' sets. (JY1,200-JY19,000 from Lego Japan)

Clay mates

Nobby Kealey
British exports Wallace and Gromit have already won raves for their clay animation films. Give Tokyo kids a taste of the goofy pair with videos like “A Close Shave” or playful straps and stuffed animals featuring their other animated friends. (From JY380 at toy and video stores)

Chocolate invasion

Let young explorers unveil the “mystery of outerspace” with these hollow egg-shaped chocolates filled with 100 different UFO and alien figurines. Already a hit with Japanese kids, Chocovader is set to become the next collectors' fad. Get ’em while they’re fresh. (JY150 from food and toy stores)

Flicks for kids

Perfect for a quiet Christmas at home, Disney’s latest animated films are sure to be a hit with kids. Entertain them with the release of the classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and the new The Emperor’s New Groove. (JY2,980 from video stores nationwide)

Playing dress-up

Girls of all ages will enjoy getting their own tote and matching mittens in this season’s hottest shearling. Give the set to go with brightly striped belts in matching colors like green and pink. (From JY1,900 at Gap stores)

Ski ’n’ skate

Whether schussing the slopes or hitting the pavement, boys will look cool while staying warm with hats and scarves from the Gap. Get a set in every color for every young lad on your list. (From JY900 at Gap stores)

FOR HOME

Set the stage with gourmet gifts and all the traditional trimmings for home and away.

Kitchen cheer

Great for gourmands, star chef Nobu’s debut cookbook features many of the master of new-style Japanese cuisine’s most famous dishes. Kitchen crusaders can whip up celebrity favorites such as octopus tiradito and soft-shell crab rolls or peruse the anecdotes that are sandwiched between the mouthwatering photographs. (JY3,900 from bookstores and Nobu Tokyo)

It’s personal

For the host who has everything, one-of-a-kind is the only solution. Order a bottle, or even a case, of champagne with your own personal message of cheer printed right on the label. (Full bottle JY5,000, half bottle JY2,800 from Anniversaire Omotesando)

A little bit of bubbly

With a mini champagne bottle and bit of crème de cassis, this gift set from Anniversaire is the perfect party gift. Just add glasses and your guests are good to go. (From JY2,200 at Anniversaire Omotesando)

Home for the holidays

Deck the halls with help from People Tree’s Christmas catalog. The charming red-and-white stockings are made by refugees from Afghanistan. The mini “jute tree pot” is just the right size to add a bit of holiday cheer to every room in your home. (JY1,250 and JY1,200, respectively)

Grape expectations
Raise a glass to friends and family with an order of California wines from SanSonoma Wine Company. Phone, fax or e-mail any last-minute orders for next-day delivery throughout Tokyo and two-day delivery throughout Japan. (See www.sansonoma.com for 
price and shipping information)           Nobby Kealey

United Colors

Fashion fiends will appreciate this limited-edition wine set from Benetton. Made from grapes harvested in the Italian design house’s hometown of Villa Loredan, this Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Siave will go well with any outfit. (JY1,600 and JY1,700 from Benetton and department stores)

Designer doggie
This terrier cushion from design f is made for man's best friend, but it's sure to please any man--and woman as well. Give it to your favorite pooch as a pillow or your favorite friend as a fun cushion. (JY7,000 from design f)

Read all about it

Tokyo newbies and veterans alike will never be at a loss for what to do or where to go with a year’s subscription to Metropolis. Filled with everything from restaurant news to fashion spreads, the city’s top English magazine is all they need to stay on top of what’s hot. (JY14,000 for 48 issues, see form on p 15)

Cyber cuties

They don't bite and don't smell, but they can remember their own names and express six emotions, like joy and discontent. Give space-age friends one of Sony's latest entertainment robots, Latte and Macaron, and they'll never be alone again. (Sets from JY107,000 at Sony and www.jp.aibo.com )